Abstract
Community-wide face mask wearing is recognised as an effective non-pharmaceutical defence against infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies have identified contextual factors of face mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify relationships between demographic factors, personal hygiene factors, online behavioural factors and face mask wearing by Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via an online survey questionnaire and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Non-availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as fewer social media hours and fewer hours of browsing information related to the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as factors related to low compliance rate of face mask wearing by some Malaysian adults. This study advances contextual understanding of face mask wearing by specific groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and puts forth several recommendations to increase face mask wearing compliance rate.
Highlights
After more than one year of ravages inflicted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) — pharmaceutical intervention involving vaccination has begun in many countries
This study aims to identify relationships between demographic factors, personal hygiene factors, online behavioural factors and face mask wearing by Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Data collected include respondents’ demographic characteristics, personal hygiene factors and online behavioural factors
Summary
After more than one year of ravages inflicted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) — pharmaceutical intervention involving vaccination has begun in many countries. Non-pharmaceutical interventions at the individual level such as wearing face masks, personal hygiene (e.g. frequent washing of hands) and other physical barriers (e.g. physical distancing) are still paramount. Many public health agencies such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend wide compliance with face mask wearing in public settings as part of a comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPC) strategy to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [1–3]. Community-wide face mask wearing is not a new non-pharmaceutical intervention. Dr Lien Teh Wu, a Malayan epidemiologist, pioneered the development of surgical face mask and encouraged medical staff and the public to wear masks during the Manchurian plague of 1910– 1911 [4]
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