Yasmeen Jan1, Ashfaq Ahmad Bhat2, Beenish Mushtaq3, Esbah Lateef4, Ashiq Rasheed Mir5, Sheikh Mohammad Saleem6
BACKGROUND
COVID-19 a disease caused by SARS CoV-2 virus ever since its emergence as a
pandemic in March 2020 has taken a toll on human race. Social distancing and use
of face masks in public places, are globally recognized as two vital components of
the preventive strategy for slowing down the transmission of SARS CoV-2. The
purpose of the current study was to quantify the behaviour of wearing masks and
practice of social distancing amongst general population and also observing the
same in one of the red zones of Jammu and Kashmir.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study, was conducted by the Department of Community
Medicine, SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar [red zone] of UT Jammu & Kashmir
during the 2nd lockdown announced from 15th April 2020 to 5th May 2020 that had
made provision for relaxation of essential services. One hundred randomly selected
locations [wards] within the city especially around the food outlets, bank, grocery
stores, mohalla centres within the red zone which could operate during the lock
down were included in the study to get the requisite sample.
RESULTS
From randomly chosen locations, 895 persons available for observation were taken
up for the study. Mask use was seen in 67.3 % of population. Majority were
wearing woven fabric masks (33.6 %) followed by 23.2 % (all women) using
dupatta [head cover] as mask & 19.5 % using surgical masks. Reasons for not
wearing the masks were that necessity of wearing them was not perceived in 68.4
% whereas 20.5 % reported discomfort on wearing masks. Social distancing was
least observed by majority of 65 % (N = 582).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite awareness generation, use of mask and social distancing was not being
practised. Robust behaviour change communication efforts with frequent
reinforcement about the preventive measures can avert large morbidity &
mortality from COVID-19 till vaccine becomes available and accessible to masses
at large.
