Covid-19 pandemic changes the attitude of people and culture toward using face masks positively

Abstract

Self-protection is one of the most effective ways to contain the spread of pandemic Covid-19. Masks have a great effect of preventing airborne/droplet-borne Novel corona virus. This study aimed to examine changing belief and attitudes of Kurdish people of Iraq toward using masks during pandemic. The study was carried out in Sulaimani city through a detailed questionnaire asking participants different questions about using masks and their interactions with their daily work. The result of this study suggested that during the pandemic, the attitude of people completely changed from the social and psychological taboo of using masks for the majority users, 75.6%. During pandemic, majority of people (85.75%) believed that mask protect them from the infection except few (%14.3). In addition, the willingness to wear masks was not very welcomed by some. Most people wore masks, 73.6% due to compulsory rules of self-protection by health authorities and due to a highly worrisome pandemic. Some of the reasons were related to difficulties facing facial mask users such as breathing difficulties (67%), skin allergies (20.9%), wearing glasses and other allergies, 19%. In conclusion, it is clarified that now people can normally use masks without thinking about social taboos and cultural views of using masks negatively. The use of masks changed from non-user to the majority users during pandemic but there is still resistance to wearing masks. Therefore, compulsory rules to wear masks are necessary during pandemics or similar types of infection if emerged in the community.