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Wang CW, de Jong EP, Faure JA, Ellington JL, Chen CHS, Chan CC. Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators of Mask-Wearing Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti: A Qualitative Study. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2024; 18:e23. [PMID: 38351541 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2024.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the barriers and facilitators of mask-wearing behaviors during the pandemic in Taiwan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti. METHODS Face-to-face interviews were conducted in Taiwan and online interviews were conducted with participants in the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti. RESULTS In general, the habit of wearing a mask before coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported by Taiwanese participants. Additionally, Taiwanese participants perceived that wearing a mask was a social responsibility during the pandemic, suggesting that the collectivistic context might influence mask-wearing behavior. Unlike the Taiwanese population, some people in the United States and the Netherlands were reluctant to wear masks due to perceived restrictions on their freedom. Participants from Haiti mentioned that people who wore masks encountered violence, bullying, and discrimination. The results of this study suggest that political leadership and mask mandates have a strong impact on people's mask-wearing behavior. CONCLUSIONS These findings have valuable implications for the design of diverse behavioral interventions to enhance mask-wearing as part of infectious disease preparedness. Additionally, the findings from these countries offer valuable insights for the development of effective public health interventions to enhance society's resilience during the current pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wen Wang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Erik Pieter de Jong
- Global Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Josemyrne Ashley Faure
- Global Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Chi-Hsin Sally Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Global Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Dantuluri KL, Buahin A, Uschner D, DeWitt ME, Rossman W, Dunn CO, Hetherington TC, Priem J, Castri P, Lagarde WH, Gibbs M, Ahmed A. Association of social vulnerability index and masking adherence among children enrolled in COVID-19 community research partnership study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:410. [PMID: 38331791 PMCID: PMC10854168 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17931-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with high social vulnerability index (SVI) have poorer outcomes with COVID-19. Masking reduces transmission of COVID-19 among children, but how SVI plays a role in masking behavior is unknown. We aimed to measure the association of SVI with masking adherence among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a multi-site, prospective syndromic surveillance study among children aged 2 - 17 years in the Southeastern United States by daily electronic surveys which solicited symptoms of COVID-19-like illness, infection with or exposure to SARS-CoV-2, masking habits, and any receipt of COVID-19 vaccines. Parents/guardians submitted surveys for their children; adolescents 13 years and older could opt to submit their own surveys. Multivariable and univariate linear models were used to measure the associations of different predictors such as SVI with masking adherence. RESULTS One thousand four hundred sixty-one children from 6 states and 55 counties predominately from North and South Carolina were included in the analysis. Most children in the cohort were 5 - 11 years old, non-Hispanic White, from urban counties, and with low-moderate SVI. Overall masking adherence decreased over time, and older children had higher masking adherence throughout the study period compared with younger children. Children who resided in urban counties had greater masking adherence throughout the study period than those who resided in suburban or rural counties. Masking adherence was higher among children with both low and medium SVI than those with high SVI. CONCLUSIONS Despite being at risk for more severe outcomes with COVID-19, children with high SVI had lower levels of masking adherence compared to those with low SVI. Our findings highlight opportunities for improved and targeted messaging in these vulnerable communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerti L Dantuluri
- Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at Levine Children's Hospital and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Health, 1001 Blythe Blvd, Medical Education Building, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC, 28203, USA.
| | - Asare Buahin
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and The Biostatistics Center at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Diane Uschner
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and The Biostatistics Center at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Michael E DeWitt
- Section on Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Whitney Rossman
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Connell O Dunn
- Department of Emergency Medicine Research at Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Priem
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Paola Castri
- Department of Neurology (Pediatric Neurology) at Wake Forest Baptist, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - William H Lagarde
- Department of Pediatrics (Endocrinology) at WakeMed, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Michael Gibbs
- Department of Emergency Medicine at Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Amina Ahmed
- Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at Levine Children's Hospital and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Atrium Health, 1001 Blythe Blvd, Medical Education Building, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC, 28203, USA
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Gartland N, Coleman A, Farrell B, Fishwick D, Johnson S, van Tongeren M. how these findings canPublic transport: lessons learned by the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1904. [PMID: 37784083 PMCID: PMC10546656 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16062-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the operations and functionality of the public transport sector in the UK. This paper reflects on the experience of this sector through the pandemic period, and considers recommendations for any future mitigations required for either new COVID-19 waves or a different public health emergency. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were carried out with public transport experts, organisational leaders, workers and passengers in two phases: Phase 1 from January to May 2021, and Phase 2 from December 2021 to February 2022. Interviews were analysed thematically. RESULTS Using the 'What? So What? Now What?' reflective model, ideas are drawn out to describe (a) what changes occurred, (b) what effects these changes had on service provision as well as perceptions of risk and mitigation and (c) what lessons have been learned and how these findings can feed into pandemic preparedness for the future. Respondent reflections focussed on the importance of communication, leadership, and maintaining compliance. CONCLUSIONS The wealth of experience gained through the COVID-19 pandemic in the public transport sector is extremely valuable. Through reflection on this experience, specific recommendations are made relating to these factors, covering: maintaining links across industry, access to information and data, understanding of mitigation effectiveness, improving messaging, challenges of behavioural mitigations, and clear lines of accountability. The recommendations made on the basis of this reflective process will help to improve public health strategy within the public transport sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Gartland
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Anna Coleman
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Bernadine Farrell
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - David Fishwick
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Centre for Workplace Health, Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Harpur Hill, Buxton, UK
| | - Sheena Johnson
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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