Factors Influencing the Compliance to Facemask Usage among University College Hospital (UCH) Commuters

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has globally impacted how people interact, communicate and work. Facemask use has been advocated by the World health organization (WHO) and several global bodies with growing studies linking its accurate use to decreasing COVID-19 variant cases and associated deaths. For it to be effective in preventing further transmission of Covid-19 and its variants, they have to be worn properly and correctly. Health experts globally and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) have also issued guidelines on the use of facemask within the hospital environment in combination with regular hand hygiene and physical and social distancing to curtail the spread of the virus. Unfortunately information is scanty on the extent to which commuters visiting hospitals comply with this regulatory preventive behaviour. This study therefore assessed the level of compliance with the use of face masks and influencing factors among University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan commuters. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design and observatory survey was used. The sample population was calculated using the Cochran formula and a standard normal value of 1.96 at 95% confidence interval and 5% marginal error with a prevalence of 50%. A simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting the target population of 260 commuters within UCH premises. Data collection was carried out within 3days from the hours of 8 am -10 am and 12 pm–2 pm. The information obtained from respondents includes the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of Covid-19, adherence to the use of facemask, factors promoting and hindering use among users and non-users, satisfaction towards the use of facemask, and the willingness to use facemask in the future. Data was coded and entered into the IBM statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 22nd edition) to analyze and interpret the data collected. Tables, inferences and charts were used for data representation. ...........