Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Proper Handling of a Face Mask during Pandemic of COVID- 19 amongst the General Population in Chennai - A Survey

Background: Facemasks have become a mandatory to prevent the pandemic spread of COVID-19. It can be utilized as part of a broader strategy to reduce transmission and save lives. However, there are several basic conditions for using masks that the general population is unaware of. People should be highly aware of the proper handling, usage and disposal of the facemask to prevent the spread. Aim: The aim of the study is to analyze the general public's knowledge, attitude, and practice of correct face mask handling during a covid-19 epidemic, with the hope of providing the essential awareness to prevent future worsening crises. Methods: The survey was conducted among general population. A total of 130 participants participated in the knowledge, awareness and practice assessment survey and the questionnaire was distributed online using Google survey forms. The data were collected, tabulated in excel and statistically analyzed using SPSS IBM version 20.0. Descriptive analysis & Pearson's chi square test statistical analysis were performed. Results: The results of the study showed that majority of the population preferred to wear face mask and 81.5 % believed that facemasks provides protection against corona virus; 3.1 % participants did not agree and 15.4 % participants were in dilemma. Conclusions: Our results showed that some practices among young people could be regarded more appropriate than in the older people which quantify the need of more awareness campaign regarding the standardization, protocols, guidelines and strict implementation on the handling, usage and disposal of mask to minimize the pandemic spread.