Contextual Factors of Face Mask Wearing During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recommendations to Increase Compliance Rate

Community-wide face mask wearing is recognised as an effective non-pharmaceutical defence against infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies have identified contextual factors of face mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify relationships between demographic factors, personal hygiene factors, online behavioural factors and face mask wearing by Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via an online survey questionnaire and analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Non-availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as fewer social media hours and fewer hours of browsing information related to the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as factors related to low compliance rate of face mask wearing by some Malaysian adults. This study advances contextual understanding of face mask wearing by specific groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and puts forth several recommendations to increase face mask wearing compliance rate.