A Study to Assess the Problems of Prolonged Use of Mask During Covid Pandemic Among the General Public Residing in Lawspet Area at Puducherry

Abstract : A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the problems of prolonged use of mask during covid pandemic among general public. The objectives of the study was to assess the problems of prolonged use of mask during covid pandemic among the general public and to find out association between the problems of prolonged use of mask during covid pandemic with selected demographic variable. The researcher developed self-administered open ended questionnaire to assess the problems of prolonged use of mask during covid pandemic among 300 public residing in lawspet area at Puducherry by using purposive sampling technique. The major findings was, regarding the demographic variables out of 300 general public 156(52%) were in age group 18-29 years, half of the public was female 198(66%), half of the public were married162(54%), 138(46%) of the public were completed under graduate(UG) level of education, half of the public were hindus168(56%), half of the public were lived in urban area 156(52%), half of the public were monthly income Rs.5000-10000 150(50%), 126(42%) of the public were company worker, 168(56%) of the public were in nuclear family, 138(46%) of the public got information from social media, 102(34%) of the public were affected in covid 19 respectively. Out of 300 public all of them were using mask 300(100%), half of the public were used surgical mask (three layered mask) 156(52%), 108(36%) of the public were used the same mask at only one time, 234(78%) of the public was not washed the single use disposable mask, 134(44%) of the public were told not wearing the N95 mask is cost effective, 120(40%) of the public were faced problems while wearing face mask was sweating, 198(66%) of the public were told no adverse reactions after using mask, 102(34%) of the public were told 4 hours was tolerable hours of wearing mask, most of the public were told correct way to wear mask was covering mouth and nose 228(76%), 144(48%) were 2 times changed the mask for full day. In association between the problems of prolonged use of mask with selected demographic variables. There is a significant(p