Covid-19 related risk communication strategy regarding the use of face masks in the Argentine Republic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63790/cdvs.v19i1.510Palabras clave:
Covid-19, risk communication, face masks, COM-B model, public healthResumen
- Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, face mask use became one of the most recommended interventions to reduce viral transmission however, the effectiveness of mask policies depended on the quality of governmental risk communication.
- Objective: To explore governmental risk communication strategies regarding face-mask use in Argentina during the first phases of the Covid-19 pandemic using Capability, Opportunity and Motivation (COM-B) framework.
- Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted of public available communication strategies disseminated between March 2020 to March 2021. Sources included National Governmental publications, and reports from international organizations. Communication material was analysed according to the COM-B framework.
- Results: Governmental communication campaigns strongly addressed the capability component promoting mask use. The Opportunity dimension was enhanced through coordinated governmental communication, however, socioeconomic inequalities limited opportunities for adherence among vulnerable populations. Motivation evolved through pandemic. During the initial stages, fear of infection and uncertainty contributed to high adherence to masking recommendations. Overtime, prolonged restrictions, and behavioral fatigue reduced public motivation. Contradictory behaviors by political leaders, highly publicized events involving inadequate compliance with preventive procedures, and the spread of misinformation on social media further weakened trust and may have undermined adherence.
- Conclusion: Argentina implemented extensive communication strategies that contributed to public awareness and early adoption of face masks during Covid-19 pandemic. Analyses using the COM-B framework demonstrated that communication efforts addressed behavioral capability and opportunity, but faced increasingly challenges in sustaining motivation over time. The findings highlight the importance of transparent, evidence-based communication, as well as the need for political role modeling and attention to socioeconomic barriers. Future public health emergency responses should integrate behavioral science frameworks with communication strategies tailored to vulnerable populations and changing social contexts.
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