Mask-Wearing and Handwashing Behaviors of Chinese Rural Residents during the Pandemic of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To understand mask-wearing and handwashing behaviors of Chinese rural residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the associated factors. Methods: This study used a multi-stage random sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire survey during the period of July to December of 2021, in six counties located in Shandong, Shanxi, and Yunnan provinces representing the eastern, central, and western regions of China, respectively. A total of 3864 villagers were surveyed with a questionnaire, and 3832 valid questionnaires were finally analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Around ninety-four percent (93.6%) of rural residents reported mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but only 44.5% of them could replace masks in time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those who were female, aged 15–59, had an education level of high school and above, were divorced/widowed, worked as farmers (workers), or were rural residents in Shandong Province were more likely to wear masks. Furthermore, those who were female, aged 15–59, had an education level of high school and above, were unmarried and married, were business and service workers, or were rural residents in Shandong and Shanxi Province replaced masks more timely. Around seventy percent (69.7%) of rural residents reported using soap when washing their hands, but only 38.0% of rural residents could wash their hands properly. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rural residents who were aged 35–59, had an education of high school and above, or lived in Shandong Province and Shanxi Province were more likely to wash their hands with soap. Those who were aged 15–59, had an education of high school and above, worked as farmers (workers), were employees of governmental departments and retirees, were business and service workers, or were students had higher proper handwashing rates. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of Chinese rural residents wearing masks reached 93.6%, but only 44.5% were able to replace masks in time, gender, age, education level, marital status, occupation, and living place had an impact on mask-wearing. The proportion of Chinese rural residents who could wash hands with soap reached 69.7%, but only 38.0% could wash their hands properly. Age and education level were influencing factors for both washing-hand with soap and proper handwashing.

Disinfection and hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practices among childcare facilities staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anhui, China: a cross-sectional study

“…The results of this study showed that although the accuracy rate of hand hygiene knowledge among the childcare facility staff was high—“Know that it is better to wash your hands with running water and hand sanitizer” and “Know the timing of hand hygiene” were 83.7% and 89.0%, respectively—the attitude of staff was positive too. The support rate of “Consider that the 6-step wash makes your hands cleaner” was 96.9%, the “always” practice rate of “Washed hands when coming back from public places from 2020” was 89.7%, which was consistent with the survey results of rural adults from 3 provinces in China ( 17 ), and it was higher than the rate of adult residents from Ghana (61.5%−66.5%) ( 8 ). However, the practice rate of “ Wash hands with six steps since 2020” was not high, with “always” measured at 63.0%.…”

“…It may be related to the trend of the pandemic, and the difference between respondents. Furthermore, washing hands with six steps needs more time, as the rate of washing at least 20 times was not high (51.7%) in rural adults from 3 provinces in China ( 17 ). This finding is similar to the responsibilities of medical workers as childcare facility staff take care of children, and their hand hygiene compliance should be improved.…”

“…Assuming that 80%(p) of staff were at a high level of disinfection and hand hygiene knowledge ( 16 , 17 ), with a type Ierror (α) of 0.05 and the permissible error (d) of 0.1 p, considering 10% expected missing and incomplete responses in the online survey and the childcare facilities administrators participating in distribution work. The minimum sample size was 120 per district, with the sample size calculation formula ( n = ) for the status study.…”