Round 1 Mask Analysis Report - Nation-wide Observational Study, 11 Cities Across India
Digital India Foundation · 15 January 2022
An observational field study tracking mask adherence across 11 Indian cities - Mumbai, Delhi/NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Shimla, Jammu, Guwahati, and Raipur - conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 27 days (23 Nov – 21 Dec 2021), researchers collected 10,841 samples and conducted 911 in-depth interviews across multiple public-space types. The study recorded wide city-level variation in full mask compliance: Mumbai led at 76.28% while Raipur recorded 28.13%. Cloth masks were the most common type among the fully masked.
“Wide city-level variation was observed - Mumbai led at 76.28% full compliance while Raipur recorded just 28.13%, underscoring the need for localised public health communication.”
Digital India Foundation (DIF) has conducted an observational mask adherence study across 11 cities in India to determine mask adherence levels among different age groups at public places in the country.
Methodology
It is an observational study and the data collection was done by the assessors in public places. The assessors were provided with a Google form that could be filled from observing the subject. The fields in the form have been limited to those details that would be needed to understand mask adherence among people across different cities, localities, age groups, gender, mask adherence, type of mask and the vaccination status.
As per the model of this study, every 10th subject was asked detailed questions regarding mask adherence, preference for wearing a certain kind of a mask, reasons for wearing and not wearing the masks. The questions were asked only after obtaining the informed consent of the respondents. For this study, the mask adherence is classified under three categories:
- Fully Masked — people who were wearing masks correctly
- Partially Masked — people wearing masks below the nose
- No Mask — people without a mask or wearing it below the mouth
The definition of mask here includes cloth mask, surgical mask, and an N95 mask; the double masking is counted under N95 masks.
The age brackets that were considered included — 18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55 and 56 and above. Since mask adherence is crucial in public places to contain the spread of the virus, this study covered most public places such as religious institutions, educational institutions, parks, hospitals, malls, markets, auto/taxi stands, railway stations, ISBT, inside metro trains; etc.
Cities
In the first round of its study, Digital India Foundation collected data from major cities — Jammu, Shimla, Chandigarh, Delhi/NCR, Guwahati, Kolkata, Raipur, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai. The data collection from these cities spanned over a period of 27 days from 23rd November 2021 to 21st December 2021. Our total sample size is 10,841 and we conducted 911 interviews.
Sample Size
The sample size was assigned based on the size of the city and caseload during the second wave of Covid-19. Metro cities like Delhi/NCR, Kolkata and Mumbai each have a sample size of more than 1500. From Tier 2 cities such as Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Chennai, the sample size was fixed at 1000 samples, and from small cities such as Jammu, Shimla, Guwahati and Pune, 500 samples were collected from each of these cities while for Raipur the sample size was 128. Total samples collected are: 10,841 including 911 interviews.