Adherence to face mask and social distancing among residents in medan during the covid-19 pandemics

Siahaan, A. M. P.; Lubis, M. P.; Dalimunthe, D. A.; Nasution, M. R.; Lubis, H. P.

Introduction: Face mask is mandatory during the Covid-19 Pandemics as personal protection and limits the virus transmission in the community. The government of Indonesia has issued regulations regarding face masks and social distancing in the community. Due to that, it is important to explore the adherence to face masks and social distancing. This study aimed to assess communities’ adherence to face masks and social distancing and the associated factors in Medan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Medan, Indonesia, in November 2020. A total of 572 residents were enrolled using a convenience-multistage sampling method from public spaces. Data were collected using direct observation. Results: Most subjects were women (55.1%) from the adults’ age group (61.9%). Only 34.3% of the subjects wore face masks properly, and only 10.6% maintained social distancing. The most common face mask used was a cloth mask (25.8%). Women and older age tended to use face mask compared. The prevalence of face mask use is significantly higher with strict regulation and control (p=0.0001). We also found a correlation between the type of face mask and adherence (p=0.0001). Conclusions: We found that the adherence to face masks and social distancing was low in Medan. Therefore, it is very important to initiate interventions to foster face mask adherence in a community in Medan. © 2021, Sanglah General Hospital. All rights reserved.