{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T10:19:22Z","timestamp":1785406762646,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,14]],"date-time":"2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744588800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a bundle of precautions to reduce community transmission of COVID-19, including mask use and physical distancing. However, there is evidence that suggests poor adherence to these health measures community settings.\n\nAim:\u00a0To summarise qualitative research evidence on the perceptions and factors influencing masks use and physical distancing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nSetting:\u00a0We included studies conducted in community settings.\n\nMethod:\u00a0An electronic database search was conducted using search terms derived from the inclusion criteria and combined in a peer-reviewed search strategy. Thirty studies were sampled. Qualitative data analysis was performed using the thematic synthesis approach. The confidence in each review finding was ascertained using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations \u2013 Confidence in the evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) approach.\n\nResults:\u00a0Ten analytical themes of low to high confidence were identified. Values, belief systems and cultural norms shaped the perception and uptake of mask use and physical distancing. Key barriers included the cost of masks, limited infrastructure for spatial separation and inconsistent political or government messaging, while visual cues and social responsibility facilitated adherence.\n\nConclusion:\u00a0Personal values and preferences influenced individuals\u2019 adherence to these public health measures. Political or government messaging is important to aid understanding and adherence.\n\nContribution:\u00a0Insights provided by this synthesis can support future emergency preparedness and response to outbreaks of acute respiratory infections by providing policy makers with information needed to make contextually relevant recommendations to enhance adherence.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/jphia.v16i2.614","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,15]],"date-time":"2025-04-15T03:57:11Z","timestamp":1744689431000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Factors influencing mask use and physical distancing for COVID-19: A qualitative evidence synthesis"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9035-9193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dachi I.","family":"Arikpo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05qderh61","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Calabar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7696-3570","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Okwu A.","family":"Onyema","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05qderh61","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Calabar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3231-2821","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afiong O.","family":"Oku","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05qderh61","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Calabar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-5914-539X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chibueze","family":"Meremikwu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0753-3400","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hannah","family":"Hamilton-Hurwitz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01f80g185","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"World Health Organization"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8458-1794","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o P.","family":"Toledo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01f80g185","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"World Health Organization"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8921-3712","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kathleen","family":"Dunn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01f80g185","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"World Health Organization"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8207-8423","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"April","family":"Baller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01f80g185","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"World Health Organization"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6252-3793","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helen J.","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6144-9413","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin M.","family":"Meremikwu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05qderh61","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Calabar"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","unstructured":"World Health Organization. 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