Frequency of use of facemasks and sanitizers during COVID 19 pandemic among the residents of lahore

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease leads to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. In December 2019;the disease was first identified in Wuhan, one of the cities of province of China. The disease has spread globally and resulting in the coronavirus pandemic 2019-20. The majority of cases lead to mild symptoms. Some cases cause pneumonia and multi-organ failure. Aim: To determine frequency of use of facemasks and sanitizers during COVID 19 pandemic among the residents of Lahore. Research methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at Lahore from 16th March 2020 to 15th September 2020 among residents of Lahore. After taking informed consent from 1200 subjects of 10 years age or more from both sexes were selected through convenient sampling method. The data were entered and interpreted as frequency and percentage distribution. Results: In this study 1200 subjects were included, 820(68.33%) males and 380(31.67%) females. 668(81.56%) males and 300(78.94%) females were in the age group of 19-44 years while 421(51.34%) males and 187(49.21%) females were educated. In this study 408(49.75%) males and 193(50.79%) females used face masks whereas 412(50.24%) males and 187(49.21%) females used no facemasks. 448(54.63%) males and 201(52.89%) females used sanitizers whereas 372(45.37%) males and 179(47.11%) females used no sanitizers. Conclusion: Around half of males and females used facemasks and sanitizers of any category. Majority of highly educated and educated males and females used facemasks and sanitizers thus showing education as profound factor. Use of facemasks among illiterate females was better than males. © 2020 Lahore Medical And Dental College. All rights reserved.