Assessment of mask-wearing adherence and social distancing compliance in public passengers in Hamadan, Iran, during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic

Background: The determination of the rate of social distancing compliance and mask-wearingadherence is essential to address the health aspects of COVID-۱۹. The present study aimed toestimate the adherence to mask-wearing and maintaining the social distancing in public passengersin Hamadan, west of Iran, during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Study design: The present study was conducted based on a cross-sectional design.Methods: The current study included ۷۲ images from ۱۲ areas in Hamadan as clusters in January۲۰۲۱. The images were extracted from the traffic control center of Hamadan Municipality. The meanof social distancing and percentage of mask-wearing in all clusters were obtained based on clustersampling.Results: In this research, the majority of people(۶۸%) in public passengers were men and ۳۲%women. The mean±SD of social distancing in all public passengers in Hamadan was obtained at۶۵.۲۷ ±۷۳.۳۷ cm (۹۵% CI: ۳۸.۴۸-۹۲.۰۸ cm). The percentage of men who wore masks correctly washigher than that of women (۵۷% vs. ۵۱%). Moreover, mask-wearing adherence was notrecognizable in about ۳۴% of people in the images (۲۸% of men versus ۴۸% of women). Amongthe people whose images were recognizable, all the women were wearing masks, while about ۱۳%of men were not (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the mean social distance in Hamadan wasmuch lower than the standard value (۱.۵-۲ meters) even at the time of restrictions. Although morethan half of people wore masks in public passengers, it was much less than that in developedcountries. Therefore, people should pay more attention to health advice regarding mask-wearingand maintaining social distance.

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-۲ , Masks , Social distancing , Treatment adherence and compliance