Persepsi Masyarakat Terhadap Penggunaan Masker Sebagai Alat Pelindung Diri dari Covid-19

Abstract

The use of masks can help adequately control the COVID-19 infection, while at the same time having a minimal impact on social and economic conditions. However, people are not disciplined enough to wear masks. So a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach was needed, which involved 18 community leaders and the people of the city of Banda Aceh. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions based on the interview questions that had been prepared. Verbatim data resulting from the informants' answers were then followed up with thematic analysis. Three themes were obtained, namely: (1) perceptions of COVID-19: the common cold, fate, and human engineering; (2) perceptions of wearing masks: personal reasons, social reasons, and religious reasons; (3) the expectations of the government and society have not yet been realized. The results of the study showed that negative perceptions of COVID-19 and the use of masks were largely due to the low level of public trust in the government as an authority figure. In an effort to realize the expectations of the government and society, the government needs to work more closely with community leaders, especially religious leaders who are considered role models by the community, to convey information related to COVID-19 and the use of masks and their relation to religious values which are ultimately expected to increase public discipline in the use of masks.

Keywords: community leaders; COVID-19; government; health protocols; face masks; religions

ABSTRAK

Penggunaan masker dapat membantu pengendalian infeksi COVID-19 secara adekuat, sekaligus berdampak minimal terhadap kondisi sosial dan ekonomi. Namun masyarakat belum cukup disiplin dalam menggunakan masker. Maka diperlukan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologi, yang melibatkan 18 tokoh masyarakat dan masyarakat kota Banda Aceh. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam dan diskusi kelompok terarah dengan berpedoman pada pertanyaan wawancara yang telah disusun. Data verbatim hasil jawaban para informan kemudian ditindaklanjuti dengan analisis tematik. Didapatkan tiga tema yaitu: (1) persepsi terhadap COVID-19: flu biasa, takdir, dan rekayasa manusia; (2) persepsi terhadap penggunaan masker: alasan personal, alasan sosial, dan alasan agama; (3) ekspektasi terhadap pemerintah dan masyarakat masih belum terwujud. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persepsi negatif terhadap COVID-19 dan penggunaan masker sebagian besar disebabkan oleh rendahnya kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap pemerintah sebagai figur otoritas. Dalam upaya mewujudkan ekspektasi terhadap pemerintah dan masyarakat, pemerintah perlu lebih bekerja sama dengan tokoh masyarakat, terutama tokoh agama yang dianggap sebagai role model oleh masyarakat, untuk menyampaikan informasi terkait COVID-19 dan penggunaan masker serta kaitannya dengan nilai-nilai keagamaan yang pada akhirnya diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kedisiplinan masyarakat dalam penggunaan masker.

Kata kunci: tokoh masyarakat; COVID-19; pemerintah; protokol kesehatan; masker; agama