Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Face Mask Use among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Face Mask Use among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study by Rahaf Ajaj 1,*,†ORCID,Suzan Shahin 2,*,†ORCID,Haruna Moda 3ORCID andShafeeq Ahmed Syed Ali 4 1 Public Health and Environment, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates 2 General Education Department, College of Arts and Science, Umm Al Quwain University, Umm Al Quwain 536, United Arab Emirates 3 Department of Health Professions, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BG, UK 4 College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. † These authors contributed equally to this work. Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 2868; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15042868 Submission received: 12 December 2022 / Revised: 11 January 2023 / Accepted: 2 February 2023 / Published: 5 February 2023 Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated daily use of face masks was at its highest, thereby creating huge public health and environmental challenges associated with the indiscriminate disposal of used ones. The present study assessed Abu Dhabi University students’ handling and disposal of single-use face masks during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was used to gather data from 255 students from the target group. Face mask type was found to be significantly influenced by both the student’s gender and age, while the participant’s habit of hand washing after handling a used face mask was found to be significantly influenced by the student’s age. The student’s educational level significantly influenced group decisions regarding the most appropriate face mask to use, as well as environmental and health consequences awareness of indiscriminate face mask disposal. While the students are adequately aware of COVID-19’s impact and had good knowledge of face mask use, a high proportion professed to the unsafe disposal of used face masks in public areas, thereby adding to microplastic pollution in the environment and its associated impacts. The study alluded to the need for strengthening the participant’s knowledge, attitude, and practices as precautionary measures that mitigate the environmental effect of the indiscriminate disposal of used face masks. The findings also call for a collaborative partnership among stakeholders toward designing effective educational campaigns to minimize the environmental impacts posed by face mask disposal. Keywords: COVID-19, university students, UAE; public health, face masks, waste management