RT - Journal Article T1 - Associations between Wearing Masks, Hand Washing, and the Risk of COVID-19 Contraction: A Case-Control Study in the Northwest of Iran JF - JOHE YR - 2022 JO - JOHE VO - 11 IS - 1 UR - http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-508-en.html SP - 23 EP - 31 K1 - COVID-19 K1 - Gloves K1 - Hand Hygiene K1 - Masks K1 - Viral Infection AB - Background: Scientists believe that the new coronavirus causing COVID-19 is airborne. It has been approved that wearing masks and hand washing prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the association between wearing facemasks, hand washing, and COVID-19 contraction in the population of Tabriz, Iran. Materials & Methods: In this analytical study, necessary information was collected via four online multi-optional questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, the COVID-19 virus, mask-wearing behaviors, and hand hygiene habits among 360 individuals (120 cases and 240 controls). Based on data normality, quantitative variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation or the median (min-max). In addition, the relationship between qualitative variables was evaluated by the Fisher’s exact test, and correlations were assessed by the Spearman's test. Results: Elderly individuals and their care seekers had fewer potentials for exposure to COVID-19 (p = 0.010), but healthcare workers were at a higher risk of contracting the virus than other occupations (p = 0.002). In addition, smokers were at a lower risk of the disease than other healthy people (p = 0.009). Furthermore, the incidence of COVID-19 was significantly higher among individuals not wearing facemasks than others (p = 0.007). Conclusions: we concluded that wearing a facemask was more effective than hand washing and antiseptics in preventing the incidence of COVID-19 contraction; thus, people not wearing facemasks were at a higher risk of the viral infection. LA eng UL http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-508-en.html M3 10.52547/johe.11.1.23 ER -