Gender analyses on knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 on wearing face mask behaviour for self-protection among elderly Malaysians

• Main Authors: Zainalaludin, Zumilah, Mat Din, Hazwan, Saidi, Norehan, Minhat, Halimatus Sakdiah, Raja Adnan, Raja Nurzatul Efah, Nor Akahbar, Siti Aisyah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Human Resource Management Academic Research Society 2021
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/97418/1/ABSTRACT.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/97418/; https://hrmars.com/index.php/IJARBSS/article/view/11802/Gender-Analyses-on-Knowledge-and-Awareness-of-COVID-19-on-Wearing-Face-Mask-Behaviour-for-Self-Protection-among-Elderly-Malaysians
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

This paper aimed to measure the variable that predicts the likelihood of female respondents to wear face mask. The data were collected (n=501) through online survey using Google Form. The set of questionnaire included the respondents’ background, knowledge about COVID-19, the awareness on COVID-19, and behaviour related to COVID-19 protection especially in wearing a face mask, washing hands, and social distance. Respondents in this study comprised the majority of females, Malay ethnic and from urban areas, at average age=65.55 years old. Majority (75.25%) reported that they are unemployed, married (78.24%), and had tertiary education (74.85%). Knowledge and awareness on COVID-19 significantly predict respondents to wear face mask. High knowledge predicts 19.194 times the likelihood of respondents to wear face mask, and high awareness predicts that less than 95.6% of respondents to wear face mask. Nevertheless, no variable predicts male respondents to wear face mask, and only high knowledge in COVID-19 predicts 41.340 times the likelihood of female respondents to wear a face mask. As conclusion, only high knowledge of COVID-19 predicts the behaviour of wearing face mask. Thus, effort should be focused on providing the public with good knowledge of COVID-19 to sustain good behaviour with regard to COVID-19 protection.