In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 9 ( 2021-9-24), p. e0257739-
Abstract:
Government of Tamil Nadu, India, mandated the face mask wearing in public places as one of the mitigation measures of COVID-19. We established a surveillance system for monitoring the face mask usage. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of the population who wear face masks appropriately (covering nose, mouth, and chin) in the slums and non-slums of Chennai at different time points. Methods We conducted cross-sectional surveys among the residents of Chennai at two-time points of October and December 2020. The sample size for outdoor mask compliance for the first and second rounds of the survey was 1800 and 1600, respectively, for each of the two subgroups–slums and non-slums. In the second round, we included 640 individuals each in the slums and non-slums indoor public places and 1650 individuals in eleven shopping malls. We calculated the proportions and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the mask compliance outdoors and indoors by age, gender, region, and setting (slum and non-slum). Results We observed 3600 and 3200 individuals in the first and second surveys, respectively, for outdoor mask compliance. In both rounds, the prevalence of appropriate mask use outdoors was significantly lower in the slums (28%-29%) than non-slum areas (36%-35%) of Chennai (p 〈 0.01). Outdoor mask compliance was similar within slum and non-slum subgroups across the two surveys. Lack of mask use was higher in the non-slums in the second round (50%) than in the first round of the survey (43%) (p 〈 0.05). In the indoor settings in the 2 nd survey, 10%-11% among 1280 individuals wore masks appropriately. Of the 1650 observed in the malls, 947 (57%) wore masks appropriately. Conclusion Nearly one-third of residents of Chennai, India, correctly wore masks in public places. We recommend periodic surveys, enforcement of mask compliance in public places, and mass media campaigns to promote appropriate mask use.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0257739.r006
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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