Demographic and Hygienic Factors as Predictors of Face Mask Wearing During Covid-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

  1. Kim Hoe Looi
  2. Stephen X. Zhang
  3. Nicolas Li

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Abstract

Wearing a face mask has been recognised as an effective way of slowing down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is scarce evidence on predictors of face mask wearing during a pandemic. This research aims to investigate which demographic and hygienic factors could predict the compliance for face mask wearing in Malaysia. We employed a structured online survey of 708 Malaysian adult respondents. Among the factors examined, we found gender, hand washing and wearing of personal protective equipment significantly predicted face mask wearing.

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  1. Version published to 10.1101/2021.02.09.21251280v2 on medRxiv
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.02.09.21251280: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variable2.1 Gender: The variable gender was a dichotomous variable coded 1 if the respondent was male and 2 if female.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    We analysed the data using SPSS (v. 26) and used multivariate least-squares fitting analysis to predict the behaviour of wearing a face mask at the significance level of 0.05.
    SPSS
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    In addition, women have a stronger tendency to feel shame from deviating from the norm and are more influenced by moral limitations [23], so they might be more compliant to face mask wearing. Our results reveal that handwashing and use of PPE predict face mask wearing compliance. Both were necessary infection control measures during the SARS pandemic [24]. A SARS study found that handwashing alone reduced transmission by 55%, wearing PPE (gloves and gowns) by 57%, and wearing face mask by 68%; the cumulative effect of handwashing, face mask wearing and PPE reduced transmission by 91% [25]. The cumulative effect of precautions is the likely reason that handwashing and PPE are significantly related to face mask wearing. This research is not without limitations. To begin with, our survey was conducted at a single point near the end of the first wave of the pandemic. It would be ideal for learning how people’s answers change as the pandemic enters the second or third wave. In terms of methodology, the web-based design means that people with no internet access and limited computer literacy were not surveyed, which explains the low percentage of respondents aged 60 or above in our sample (n = 55). Perhaps, the telephone survey should be complemented. Last but not least, other non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as physical distancing, are yet to be studied.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

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  3. Version published to 10.1101/2021.02.09.21251280v1 on medRxiv