Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37138672›Full record

ArticleWestern Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR

Early pandemic use of face masks in Papua New Guinea under a mask mandate.

Mark Raphael, Angela Kelly-Hanku, David Heslop, Danielle Hutchinson, Mohana Kunasekaran, Ashley Quigley, Raina MacIntyre

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mark RaphaelPapua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Eastern Highland Province, Papua New Guinea.
Angela Kelly-HankuPapua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Eastern Highland Province, Papua New Guinea.
David HeslopSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Danielle HutchinsonBiosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Mohana KunasekaranBiosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ashley QuigleyBiosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Raina MacIntyreBiosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, face mask wearing was mandated in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in July 2020, but compliance was observed to be low. We aimed to determine the frequency of face mask wearing by the general public in Papua New Guinea under the mask mandate. Methods: To estimate compliance with the mandate, we analysed photographs of people gathering in Port Moresby published between 29 September and 29 October 2020. Photo-epidemiology was performed on the 40 photographs that met pre-defined selection criteria for inclusion in our study. Results: Among the total of 445 fully visible photographed faces, 53 (11.9%) were observed wearing a face mask over mouth and nose. Complete non-compliance (no faces wearing masks) was observed in 19 (4.3%) photographs. Physical distancing was observed in 10% of the 40 photographs. Mask compliance in indoor settings (16.4%) was higher than that observed in outdoor settings (9.8%), and this difference was statistically significant ( Discussion: We found very low population compliance with face mask mandates in Papua New Guinea during the pre-vaccine pandemic period. Individuals without face coverings and non-compliant with physical distancing guidelines are considered to be in a high-risk category for COVID-19 transmission particularly in medium- and large-sized gatherings. A new strategy to enforce public health mandates is required and should be clearly promoted to the public.

Indexed as

COVID-19MasksHumansPandemicsPapua New GuineaPublic Health

Identifiers

PMID37138672
PMCPMC10150155

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.