Parental Awareness about Use of Mask and Hand Hygiene Practice of Their Children during COVID-19 Pandemic

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Pediatrics, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between January and August of 2021, to assess the awareness of parents regarding wearing mask and hand washing behavior of their children to prevent COVID-19 infection. A total of 378 parents whose children were admitted in the hospital (aged 2 years to 12 years) due to several diseases other than COVID-19, participated in this study. There was a face-to-face interview for each participant. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire. The majority of the participants (66.4%) were male and their income was within BDT.10000-20000 per month. Among the fathers, majority belonged to the age group of >30 years. Regarding their educational background most of them (45.2%) completed education up to secondary level and most of them were service holders (33.9%). Among the mothers, the majority belonged to the age group of 20-30 years and mostly completed their education up to primary level (40.9%) and 75.6% of them were housewives. 83.3% of participants knew that COVID-19 is a contagious disease and 85.2% knew the mode of transmission. A total 72.8% of respondent believed that hand washing can prevent COVID-19, in which 40.5% follow the six steps of hand washing. Only 12% of their children wash hands for at least 20 seconds. 60.8% participants thought that face mask can prevent COVID-19, but only 45.2% participants used to wear face mask. Among them, 73% used to wear surgical face mask. About 33.6% answered that they always reused their face masks. About 59.3% participants noted that their children sometimes wear face mask and 57.1% of their children felt suffocation and discomfort while using face mask. Our study suggests that most of the parents have sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19 including its mode of transmission and appropriate preventive measures. We also found a positive relationship of maternal education with a consolidated knowledge and awareness as well as practices of hand washing and mask wearing behavior among their children. CBMJ 2022 January: vol. 11 no. 01 P: 33-40