The demographic data presented in Table 1 showed the demographic and geographical differences in some of the demographic data. 36.6% of the participants were males and 63.4% of were females which shows more females than males in the study. The participants’ age group were largely between the ages of 18–45 and this amounted to 79% of the group that was interviewed. From the participants, it was noticed that most of them (82%) resides either in the location, township or the suburb of the city center. As regards the mode of selling their goods and items, 44% of the respondents do display their goods or items just by the roadside while hawking and sitting under the shed accounted for 22% and 21% respectively. 51% of those interviewed either have matric or below matric while one of the most surprising result of the study was the percentage with either Diploma or Degree totaling 13%. Monthly income generation from the business were mostly between R1000 – R5000 with just 12% of the respondents generating income above R5000. Mode of transportation to work station involved usage of train, taxi or buses but 23% indicated that they trekked to work. Table 1 that follows shows the demographic information.
Table 1
Variables
|
|
Percentage
|
Gender
|
Male
|
36.6
|
|
Female
|
63. 4
|
Abode
|
City Centre
|
18
|
|
Suburb
|
23
|
|
Location
|
22
|
|
Township
|
37
|
Age
|
18–25
|
35.6
|
|
26–45
|
43.4
|
|
45 - Above
|
21
|
Selling Mode
|
Hawking
|
22
|
|
Under Shed
|
21
|
|
Displaying
|
44
|
|
Others
|
13
|
Education
|
Matric or Below
|
51
|
|
High School
|
36
|
|
Diploma
|
11
|
|
Degree
|
2
|
Income per month
|
R1000 – R3000
|
22
|
|
R3100 – R4000
|
31
|
|
R4100 – R5000
|
35
|
|
R5100 – Above
|
12
|
Transportation Mode to Work Station
|
Train
|
33.2
|
|
Taxi
|
19.8
|
|
Bus
|
24
|
|
Trekking
|
23
|
72% of the respondent agreed that there is COVID 19 and that the disease is real, which may either affect their behavior towards prevention or management of the disease. Such a finding showed a reasonable awareness regarding the reality, presence and dangers around COVID 19 amongst the respondents The remaining 28% who did not agree to the presence of COVID 19 were largely within the 18–25 years age bracket and labeled it as a “prank” by the government to source for money. One of the respondent says
“This is another method of collecting money from us and maybe if the government has taken the money of the people and looking for a way to cover up”.
Further inquiry showed that they saw it on the Television or heard it in the news or informed by the dreaded disease on the social media, but were not convinced on the presence of this disease and has largely affected their behaviors. Generally the mode of information as alluded to by most of the respondents were Television, Radio and to a large extent information provided on social media which was mostly through the WhatsApp messages.
A further probe to understanding participants reasons for not believing in COVID 19 pandemic revealed that, they had not directly witnessed anyone who died in their area or neighborhood as a result of COVID 19.
One of the respondents said,
“We know everyone that comes here everyday and none of us has died of the disease, they say if you don’t use the mask, you gonna die, did you see me with any mask? Am alive”.
Despite the fact that majority of the respondent agreed that the COVID 19 disease is real, this did not align with their readiness to use face mask. The announcement by the government on the compulsory use of face mask was not a welcome idea from most of the respondent in this study. Only 19.7% of those who participated in this survey agreed that the use of face mask was necessary while 29.5% disagreed with the idea of using mask to prevent the spread of the disease and the remaining 50.8% were not sure if the decision by the government was necessary. From those who agreed that it was a good decision from the government, one of them mentioned that
If they say it can prevent the spread, why not? Let’s use it so that we can be safe
One of those who disagreed said.,
“If the government knows it is necessary and will prevent us from getting the disease, they should give us free mask like they are doing with condoms, you see, they know, HIV will kill us, so they gave us something to prevent it’’.
Another person who disagreed on the protective nature of the mask also mentioned,
“Which one is cheaper, the mask or the vaccine that we can’t even produce, so they know it will not work and that is why they ask us to use it, anyway, I don’t believe there is this thing called COVID’ it is just a scam from the government”
The major challenges as reiterated by most of the respondents on the usage of mask was the issue of breathing and discomfort that comes with it. Most of the respondent especially those within the ages of 41 and above reported that breathing had become difficult especially when a mask is worn for a long time and that most of them relied solely on mask made from fabrics usually double layered with the assumption that this would prevent the virus from infecting them. Apart from the breathing problem mentioned by some of the respondent, few of them mentioned itchiness and irritability on the skin as their major concern.
A respondent reported issue of “dizziness” if they put on the mask for a very long period of time. Other problems associated with the usage of mask as mentioned by other respondent who participated in the study included the pain from the ears through the stripes, the tight fitness and the cost of purchasing the mask. A respondent mentioned,
‘A mask will cost you between 20–30 rands, I don’t have money to buy that, that is just too expensive for me, they should give us free.”
We observed just before the commencement of the study that wearing of mask by these group of individuals takes different forms and the question on the appropriate method of wearing mask was included in the questionnaire. Options such as wearing it on the chin, wearing it to cover nose and mouth, wearing it to cover the mouth and just putting in pockets just because of the law enforcement agents were included in the questionnaire. 61% of the respondents and largely from the age group of 26 and above were compliant and were largely female (78.2%) and they wear the mask covering the mouth and chin though they also mentioned that this will only be for a few minutes so that this can allow them to breath normally. The longest duration as mentioned from those that are wearing it ranged from 15 minutes to 1 hour at interval. None of the respondent interviewed mentioned that they could wear it longer than 1 hour at a stretch. 21% of the respondent indicated that they moved about with there mask but mostly in their pocket and this response was mostly from the hawkers and those displaying their items by the roadside. Major reasons gievn for failure to wear a mask (keeping it in the pocket) were that they could not t move freely when wearing mask as this affected their breathing and also would not be able to call on consumers to market their products. Generally from the study, women were those that are using the mask correctly and were largely those above 26 years of age.
The general feeling from the street vendors interviewed in this study on the use of mask was that it is not comfortable looking at all the discomfort associated with it (52%) and 21% mentioned that it is stressful going around or moving with a mask on. Those that agreed to the continuous use of mask though periodically depending on their ability to breath normally were just 15% of those interviewed in the study.
As mentioned by those that were interviewed in the study, the presence of COVID 19 has adversely affected their business and they wished the government could eradicate it at once if it was real. The response to the question on the impact of wearing of mask on their activities as street vendors was met with mixed feelings. Some participants mentioned that it had negatively affected their sales because it was difficult for them to attract or market their products to their customers while putting on the face mask. Others agreed that it was not actually the use of face mask that had affected their business but the lockdown regulations in general as a result of COVID 19.