THE USE OF MASKS AMONG BRAZILIAN NURSING WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

cross-sectional study addressing nursing workers between March and May 2020. Data were collected online using a form addressing demographic variables and the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Face Mask Use Scale (FMUS-PB). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, central tendency and dispersion measures, Student’s t-test, and analysis of variance.

Results:

a total of 3,294 workers participated; most were nurses (85.9%), women (90.2%), lived in the southeast (36.9%), and had had contact with the COVID-19 (77.8%). The participants reported using masks in public places and at work (63.1% and 78.8%, respectively). However, only 25.8% wore masks at home. Individuals aged between 35 and 45 (p=0.002) living in the south (p<0.001) reported more frequent use of masks. Nursing technicians (p<0.001), aged ≥ 45 (p<0.001), living in the south (p<0.001), scored higher in the use of masks for self-protection and to protect others (p=0.002). Prior contact with COVID-19 resulted in the more frequent use of masks for self-protection and to protect others (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

the use of masks by nursing workers in public places and health settings was more frequent than at home. Additionally, masks were more frequently use for self-protection than to protect others. These results show a need to promote cultural changes toward masks for personal protection and within the family and social contexts.

DESCRIPTORS:
Masks; Infection control; Nursing team; Coronavirus; Pandemics

Variables	n	%
Profession
Nurse	2792	85.9
Nursing technician	457	14.1
Sex
Female	2930	90.2
Male	319	9.8
Marital status
Single	1318	40.6
Married/Stable Union	1668	51.3
Divorced	233	7.2
Widowed	30	0.9
Age range (years)
18 ├┤25	448	13.7
25 ┤ 35	1121	34.5
35 ┤ 45	929	28.5
>45	728	22.4
Region
North	224	6.9
Northeast	1151	35.4
Midwest	365	11.2
Southeast	1199	36.9
South	310	9.5
Total	3294	100

Itens*	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
Itens*	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)
1. I wear a face mask in public venues to protect myself against influenza-like-illness. (n= 3,292).	400(12.3)	219 (6.7)	575 (17.7)	02 (0.6)	2051 (63.1)
2. I wear a face mask in a doctor’s clinic to protect myself against influenza-like-illness (n=3,279).	220(6.8)	116 (3.6)	338 (10.4)	01 (0.3)	2559 (78.8)
3. I wear a face mask at home when I have symptoms of influenza-like-illness (n=3,283).	1526 (47.0)	405 (12.5)	469 (14.4)	01 (0.3)	837 (25.8)
4. I wear a face mask in public venues when I have symptoms of influenza-like-illness (n=3,173).	892 (27.5)	228 (8.9)	350 (10.8)	02 (0.6)	1701 (52.4)
5. I wear a face mask in a doctor’s clinic when I have symptoms of influenza-like-illness (n=3,278).	411 (12.7)	200 (6.2)	333 (10.2)	01 (0.3)	2281 (70.2)
6. I wear a face mask at home when family members have influenza-like-illness (n=3,271).	1617 (49.8)	468 (14.4)	444 (13.7)	01 (0.3)	700 (21.7)

Variable	Overall use of masks		Cautious practices		Negligent practices		Self-protection		Others protection
	(n=3,207)		(n=3,216)		(n=3,226)		(n=3,220)		(n=3,218)
	Mean (SD)	p	Mean (SD)	p	Mean (SD)	p	Mean (SD)	p	Mean (SD)	p
Marital Status
Single	20.2(6.8)	0.045†	11.8(3.7)	0.488†	8.4(3.8)	0.008†	10.5(3.3)	0.069†	9.7(4.1)	0.130†
Married	20.8(6.8)		12.0(3.7)		8.8(3.8)		10.8(3.2)		10.1(4.1)
Divorced	20.7(6.8)		11.9(3.8)		8.7(3.8)		10.7(3.3)		10.0(4.1)
Widowed	22.6(7.4)		12.3(4.0)		10.1(4.2)		11.4(3.8)		10.9(4.7)
Sex
Female	20.6(6.8)	0.050*	12.0(4.0)	0.081*	8.7(4)	0.065*	10.7(3.3)	0.129*	10.0(4.1)	0.043*
Male	19.8(7.1)		11.6(4.0)		8.3(4)		10.4(3.4)		9.5(4.2)
Profession
Nurse	20.4 6.9)	0.026*	11.9(3.8)	0.043*	8.6(3.8)	0.025*	10.6(3.3)	0.002*	9.9(4.1)	0.183*
Nursing technician	21.3(6.5)		12.2(3.4)		9.0(3.7)		11.1(3.1)		10.1(3.9)
Age range
18 ├┤25	19.6(7.0)	0.002†	11.4(3.8)	0.008†	8.1(3.8)	0.000†	10.1(3.0)	0.001†	9.4(4.0)	0.002†
25 ┤ 35	20.4(6.7)		11.9(3.6)		8.5(3.8)		10.6(3.0)		9.8(4.0)
35 ┤ 45	21.0(6.7)		12.1(3.6)		8.8(3.8)		10.7(3.0)		10.3(4.0)
>45	20.8(6.7)		11.7(3.8)		9.0(3.7)		10.8(3.0)		9.9(4.1)
Region
North	20.8(6.3)	0.000†	11.9(3.5)	0.000†	8.8(3.5)	0.000†	10.8(3.0)	0.000†	10.0(3.8)	0.000†
Northeast	20.9(6.7)		12.1(3.5)		8.8(3.8)		10.8(3.0)		10.1(3.9)
Midwest	20.7(6.6)		12.0(3.6)		8.7(3.7)		10.6(3.0)		10.0(4.0)
Southeast	19.6(7.0)		11.4(3.9)		8.2(3.7)		10.1(3.0)		9.5(4.0)
South	22.4(6.6)		12.7(3.5)		9.7(3.8)		11.6(3.0)		10.8(4.0)
COVID-19 contact
No	20.1(7.0)	0.000*	11.6(3.9)	0.000*	8.5(3.8)	0.000*	10.5(3.4)	0.000*	9.6(4.1)	0.000*
Yes	21.9(6.2)		12.7(3.1)		9.1(3.7)		11.2(2.9)		10.7(3.8)

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil, Tel.: (55 48) 3721-4915 / (55 48) 3721-9043 - Florianópolis - SC - Brazil
E-mail: textoecontexto@contato.ufsc.br

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[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Silmara Elaine Malaguti Toffano silmara.toffano@uftm.edu.br