Reasons for the use of masks in open areas after the Peruvian government announced that it will no longer be mandatory in the context of COVID-19 in 2022

Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez; Nicole  Oré-Kovacs; Carlos  Carbajal-León; Ximena  Llerena-Espezúa; Daniel E.  Yupanqui-Lorenzo; Julio Torales

doi:10.52379/mcs.v7i2.289

Reasons for the use of masks in open areas after the Peruvian government announced that it will no longer be mandatory in the context of COVID-19 in 2022

Authors

Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5349-7570
Nicole Oré-Kovacs Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Facultad de Psicología, Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8547-4755
Carlos Carbajal-León Universidad Norbert Wiener, South American Center for Education and Research in Public Health, Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6714-519X
Ximena Llerena-Espezúa Universidad Católica San Pablo, Departamento de Psicología, Arequipa, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1973-1968
Daniel E. Yupanqui-Lorenzo Universidad de Ciencias y Humanidades, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8977-2888
Julio Torales Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, San Lorenzo, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-7036

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52379/mcs.v7i2.289

Keywords:

COVID-19, mask, reasons, risk

Abstract

Introduction: In Peru, a high proportion of fully immunized people against COVID-19 has been achieved, which has mitigated the severity of the disease. Thus, under the recommendation of experts, the Peruvian government issued Supreme Decree 118-2022-PCM, which indicated that the use of masks is optional in open and ventilated enclosed spaces as of October 1, 2022. Objective: The aim of the present study was to find out the reasons why people continued to wear masks even though it was not mandatory in outdoor environments. Methods: A total of 335 people participated, with an average age of 26.11 years (73.1% women). A data collection form was prepared where sociodemographic and health information was requested; in addition, the question "Why do you continue to wear mask despite it being optional in open and closed ventilated spaces?" was included. The data obtained from the last open question of the instrument was analyzed by means of a discursive textual analysis (DTA) and an exploratory analysis through IRAMUTEQ. Results: Results indicate that people continue to wear masks, despite the lifting of the restrictions, to avoid contagion of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. In addition, the prevention of possible infection and transmission of the virus also focused on the family and vulnerable people. Discussion: It is concluded that the practice of wearing masks may be influenced by individual perceptions of risk and interpretations of responsibility and solidarity towards others.

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