Face Mask Usage among Young Polish People during the COVID-19 Epidemic—An Evolving Scenario

• Main Authors: Radomir Reszke, Marta Szepietowska, Piotr K. Krajewski, Łukasz Matusiak, Rafał Białynicki-Birula, Jacek C. Szepietowski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Healthcare
• Subjects: face masks; COVID-19; young people; behaviors
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/6/638

The usage of face masks has been mandated in many countries in an attempt to diminish the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine face mask-wearing behaviors and practices in 1173 young Polish people during the second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in October 2020. The majority of respondents (97.4%) declared that they wore face masks in areas/situations where it is mandatory. The most common types of utilized face masks were cloth masks (47.7%) and surgical masks (47%), followed by respirators (N95/FFP3) (3.2%) and half-face elastomeric respirators (0.9%). Over 38% reported frequently disinfecting their face masks, especially females. Respondents reporting personal atopic predisposition (64.5% vs. 72.1%; <i>p</i> = 0.02) or sensitive skin (65.5% vs. 74.3%; <i>p</i> = 0.005) declared multiple use of face masks less commonly than other individuals. Individuals suffering from facial skin lesions declared disinfecting face masks more commonly (40.8% vs. 34.9%; <i>p</i> = 0.04). Overall, the self-declared utilization of face masks among young people in Poland has improved since the beginning of the epidemic as compared with our previous study. Until the mass vaccination of the public is achieved and government policy is changed, face mask use remains a valuable tool to decrease the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.