Prevention of 21st Century Emerging Pandemics, Covid-19: Using Face Masks

Abstract

Background: Emerging infections that are airborne or droplets infections, spread by inhalation or cotact with infected ‘Aerosols' or droplets. COVID-19 and TB are examples of infectious pathogens that are transmitted by inhalation of infected droplets or air. All human beings are at risk of breathing in infectious microbes in the air. Despite this fact and the negative impacts caused by infectious diseases, much attention is still not given to the use of face masks; as they were not recommended for preventing airborne/droplets infections in previous epidemics or pandemics. It was during the emergence of SARS in 2003 that droplets infections and the use of face masks were taken seriously by authorities, but most people are still reluctant to use them. The SARS outbreak was followed by Human swine influenza (H1N1) in 2009, also from zoonotic origin. Face masks were then found to be helpful in the prevention of epidemics/pandemics that can spread through airborne or droplets infections, during and after these two outbreaks. However, face masks have never been given any serious attention by the public, just like now; as some people still refuse to wear them despite warning that COVID-19 can be transmitted through infected droplets.

From this project's objectives, we would be able to know whether people are complying with the wearing of masks or not. We will also know the weaknesses or strengths of wearing them, and give professional recommendations. Aside these the study will also benefit everyone, especially the vulnerable group in the COVID-19 Pandemic's transmission, like pregnant women. It will draw the attention of health workers, especially midwives, the pregnant women, the community and family heads to the prevention of stillbirth or preterm delivery due to COVID-19. This project's findings will serve as a guide to Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Health Directorates in their Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) strategy to curb stillbirth rate, especially soaring in the Tema metropolis. It may also serve as a source of reference for future researchers who would take up similar studies.

Aim: To assess people compliance to the wearing of face masks and find out the strengths or weaknesses associated with it and give recommendations.

Methodology: A checklist will be used to observe how two thousand, seven hundred (2,700) people (above 18 years who are not incapacitated) are wearing face/nose masks. This will be started after approval. Then, questionnaires will be given out to one thousand, three hundred and fifty (1,350) consented individuals (health workers, patients and the general public) who are above eighteen (18) years to answer. Published and grey literatures will be reviewed using related online publications from any year that is related to this project. Three strategical search approaches will be used to search for literature: data from health and social issues would be reviewed, custom Google seacrhes; then experts would be consulted for validation of results. 

Hypothesis: Some people are not wearing face/nose masks; others wear them wrongly.

Expected Outcome: Our expectations are that the project would reveal whether people are complying the directive from experts and national presidents to wear face masks. Findings of this projects are expected to reveal the strengths or weaknesses associated with the wearing of face masks and give professional recommendations. The project is an emergency one started in April, 2020 and will end in October, 2020. Findings of the projects are expected to be submitted in October or November, 2020.