Can promoting community mask-wearing improve public health?

 
 
 
 

Research Title: The Impact of Community Masking on COVID-19: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Bangladesh

Research Authors: Jason Abaluck Laura H. KwongAshley StyczynskiAshraful HaqueMd Alamgir KabirEllen Bates-JefferysEmily CrawfordJade Benjamin-ChungSalim BenhachmiShabib RaihanShadman RahmanNeeti ZamanStephen LubyMushfiq Mobarak, Mohammad Ashraful HaqueMd Alamgir KabirEllen Bates-JefferysShabib RaihanShadman RahmanNeeti Zaman

Research Publisher: Innovations for Poverty Action

Research Publication date: September 2021

What does research tell us about promoting community mask wearing?

In a new study entitled The Impact of Community Masking on COVID-19: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Bangladesh researchers conducted a community-level randomized trial with 342,126 individuals in 600 villages across Bangladesh during COVID-19. The results show the intervention tripled mask usage and reduced symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections, demonstrating that promoting community mask-wearing can improve public health.

In particular, the researchers found mask distribution, role modeling, and promotion in an LMIC (low-to-middle income country) setting increased mask-wearing and physical distancing, leading to lower illness, particularly in older adults. They also found stronger support for the use of surgical masks than cloth masks to prevent COVID-19.

Check out the following interesting approaches:

  • A variety of innovative data collection techniques, including systematic, direct observations and surveillance.

  • Multiple treatment arms to assess behavior change; including whether public displays can promote social norms, whether an altruistic framing inspires people more or less than self-interest; whether social image concerns and signaling can lead to higher compliance, and whether regular reminders are a useful tool to ensure adoption

  • Multiple levels of randomization at the village and household to assess the value of surgical or cloth masks; whether no incentive, non-monetary incentive, or monetary incentive improved; and the effect of text messaging reminders.

Techniques to inspire all up-and-coming researchers and MEL individuals!

AfP Blog Author: Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik, Senior Director - Learning & Evaluation

jessica bz