PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 7, No. 2, August 2023
Pages 631-640
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/3202/70.0210
Face-Mask Ownership and Handling Patterns During the First Wave of Covid-19 Pan-demic in Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria
Hilary I. Okoh1*, Concilia I. Iyeh1, Hammed O. Mogaji1, Ikenna M. Odoh2, Olubunmi G. Sodipe1, Segun I. Oyedeji1, Maureen O. Okoh3, Aaron O. Nwana1,
1Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University, Oye – Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2University Medical Center, Federal University, Oye – Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
3Department of Educational Technology, Federal University, Oye – Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Wearing of face-masks remains one of the most prominent non-pharmaceutical pre-ventive interventions against transmission of COVID-19 virus and other infectious diseases. In this study, we evaluated facemask ownership and handling patterns during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ekiti State, located in southwestern Nigeria.
Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among residents above age 18, within three Local Government Areas (Ado-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, and Ikole-Ekiti) in the State. Five hundred fifty-three respondents consented to the study procedures and completed the close-ended question-naire shared via social media. Data obtained were entered into Microsoft Excel Software and sub-sequently analyzed in SPSS 20.0 software for basic descriptive statistics. The association between variables was also examined using chi-square tests and the significant level was set at 95%.
Results: Findings showed an ownership rate of 98.1%. Over half of the respondents, 305(57.5%), wore face-mask regularly 305 (57.5%), while 170(32.1%) occasionally wore masks and 55 (10.4%) rarely wore masks. Furthermore, majority of the respondents 470 (90.2%) wore facemask appropriately to cover both nose and mouth. However, about one-third of the participants 123(29.5%) wore facemask under their nose, covering only their mouth. Majority of the participants 308 (60.0%) touch their face and mask intermittently, and only 291(56.0%) clean their hands after removing their masks.
Conclusion: This study highlights the need for increased awareness on proper handling of face-masks to curtail transmission of COVID-19 virus, or other airborne infections..
Keywords: Covid – 19, facemasks, ownership, usage, handling, sensitization