Prevalence of correct face mask usage among general public during COVID-19 pandemic in Denizli, Turkey

Year 2022, , 343 - 349, 31.10.2022

Suleyman Utku Uzun Ozgur Sevınc Ahmet Ergın

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1191644

Abstract

Objective: Objective: We aimed to evaluate correct facemask usage prevalence among the general public in marketplaces in Denizli,
Turkey and also aimed to determine the effects of the announcement of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases
and curfew decisions on compliance rates of appropriate mask use.
Materials and Methods: In this population-based study, a total of 6749 observations were made in the 8 different marketplaces between
22 November – 3 December 2020. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of age, gender, observation
time, and intervention type (announcement of asymptomatic COVID-19 case numbers and, announcement of nationwide curfew
decisions) on correct facemask use prevalence.
Results: Correct facemask usage prevalence in customers and sellers was 84.3% and 46.3%, respectively. The announcement of the
number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases had no statistically significant effect on correct facemask usage prevalence both among
customers and sellers (p>0.05). After the announcement of the curfew decisions, correct facemask usage prevalence increased among
customers (OR:1.24 (1.02-1.52)) and sellers (OR:1.64 (1.32-2.03)).
Conclusion: The correct use of facemasks is not sufficient, especially among sellers. The announcement of curfew decisions has
increased the correct use of masks although, the announcement of asymptomatic COVID-19 case numbers has no effect.

Keywords

COVID-19, Correct facemask use, Marketplaces, Turkey.

References

• Cheng VCC, Wong SC, Chuang VWM, et al. The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2. J Infect 2020;81:107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.024.
• WHO. Mask use in the context of COVID-19. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak Accessed December 22, 2020.
• Republic of Turkey Governorship of Denizli. Denizli provincial general hygiene assembly decision 68 (COVID-19). [68 nolu (COVID-19) Denizli il umumi hıfzıssıhha meclis kararı] Available from: http://www.denizli.gov.tr/68-nolu-covid-19-denizli-il-umumi-hifzissihha-meclis-karari Accessed December 22, 2020. (Turkish.)
• Ngonghala CN, Iboi E, Eikenberry S, et al. Mathematical assessment of the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on curtailing the 2019 novel coronavirus. Math Biosci 2020;325:108364. doi: 10.1016/j.mbs.2020.108364.
• Financial Times. Turkey admits publishing incomplete coronavirus tally. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/5307a438-f083-4f7f-a1da-5b0a0eaa6047 Accessed April 12, 2021.
• Wikipedia. COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkey Accessed April 12, 2021.
• TURKSTAT. The results of address based population registration system, 2021. Available from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=The-Results-of-Address-Based-Population-Registration-System-2021-45500&dil=2 Accessed February 17, 2021.
• Denizli Metropolitan Municipality. Marketplaces days and hours in Denizli [Denizli Pazar yerleri gün ve saatleri]. Available from: https://www.denizli.bel.tr/Default.aspx?k=content&id=13175 Accessed October 17, 2020. (Turkish)
• Sedgwick P, Greenwood N. Understanding the Hawthorne effect. BMJ 2015;351:h4672. doi:10.1136/bmj.h4672
• WHO. When and how to use masks. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks Accessed February 12, 2021.
• Tam VC, Tam SY, Poon WK, Law HKW, Lee SW. A reality check on the use of face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong. EClinicalMedicine 2020;22:100356. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100356
• Gunasekaran GH, Gunasekaran SSS, Gunasekaran SS, Zaimi NSIB, Halim NABA. Prevalence of facemask use among general public when visiting wet market during Covid-19 pandemic: An observational study. medRxiv [Preprint] Accessed December 23, 2020. doi: 10.1101/2020.05.17.20105023
• Gunasekaran GH, Gunasekaran SSS, Gunasekaran SS, Halim FHBA. Prevalence and acceptance of face mask practice among individuals visiting hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study. Preprints [Preprint] Accessed December 23, 2020. doi: 10.20944/preprints202005.0152.v1
• Elachola H, Ebrahim SH, Gozzer E. COVID-19: Facemask use prevalence in international airports in Asia, Europe and the Americas, March 2020. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020;35:101637. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101637
• Elachola H, Gozzer E, Rahman NMM, et al. Photo-epidemiology to estimate face covering use in select areas in Asia versus the Americas and Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Travel Med 2020;27:taaa121. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa121
• Rahimi Z, Shirali GA, Araban M, Mohammadi MJ, Cheraghian B. Mask use among pedestrians during the Covid-19 pandemic in Southwest Iran: an observational study on 10,440 people. BMC Public Health 2021;21:133. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10152-2
• Haischer MH, Beilfuss R, Hart MR, et al. Who is wearing a mask? Gender-, age-, and location-related differences during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2020;15:e0240785. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240785.
• Beckage B, Buckley TE, Beckage ME. Prevalence of face mask wearing in northern Vermont in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health Rep 2021;333549211009496. doi: 10.1177/00333549211009496.
• Newman MG. An observational study of mask guideline compliance ın an outpatient ob/gyn clinic population. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020;255:268-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.10.048.
• Ho HS. Use of face masks in a primary care outpatient setting in Hong Kong: Knowledge, attitudes and practices. Public Health 2012;126:1001-6. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.09.010.
• Harris CR, Jenkins M, Glaser D. Gender differences in risk assessment : why do women take fewer risks than men ? Judgm Decis Mak 2006;1:48–63.
• Lee LYK, Lam EPW, Chan CK, et al. Practice and technique of using face mask amongst adults in the community: a cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:948. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09087-5.
• Machida M, Nakamura I, Saito R, et al. Incorrect use of face masks during the current COVID-19 pandemic among the general public in Japan. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:6484. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186484.
• Badillo-Goicoechea E, Chang T-H, Kim E, et al. Global trends and predictors of face mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. arXiv [Preprint]. Accessed December 22, 2020. Available from: http://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11678
• Duan T, Jiang H, Deng X, Zhang Q, Wang F. Government intervention, risk perception, and the adoption of protective action recommendations: evidence from the COVID-19 prevention and control experience of China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:3387. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103387.
• Liang XH, Tang X, Luo YT, Zhang M, Feng ZP. Effects of policies and containment measures on control of COVID-19 epidemic in Chongqing. World J Clin Cases 2020;8:2959-76. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i14.2959.
• Kao K, Lust E, Dulani B, Ferree KE, Harris AS, Metheney E. The ABCs of Covid-19 prevention in Malawi: authority, benefits, and costs of compliance. World Dev 2021;137:105167. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105167.
• Plohl N, Musil B. Modeling compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines: the critical role of trust in science. Psychol Health Med 2021;26:1-12. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2020.1772988.
• Romano A, Sotis C, Dominioni G, Guidi S. The scale of COVID-19 graphs affects understanding, attitudes, and policy preferences. Health Econ 2020;29:1482-94. doi: 10.1002/hec.4143.
• Zhou W, Wang A, Xia F, Xiao Y, Tang S. Effects of media reporting on mitigating spread of COVID-19 in the early phase of the outbreak. Math Biosci Eng 2020;17:2693-07. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2020147.
• Howard J, Huang A, Li Z, et al. An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118:e2014564118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2014564118.
• Lyu W, Wehby GL. Community use of face masks and COVID-19: evidence from a natural experiment of state mandates in the US. Health Aff (Millwood). 2020;39:1419–25. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818.
• Christie A, Mbaeyi SA, Walensky RP. CDC interim recommendations for fully vaccinated people: an important first step. JAMA 2021;325:1501-2. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.4367.