Evaluation of the observance of health protocols and requirements of the environmental and occupational health center against COVID-19 in men’s hairdresser salons of Birjand, Iran, in 2020

Background and Aims: The Coronavirus has become a global pandemic that has affected most countries in the world. Hairdresser salon as a public place can transmit infectious diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis as well as viral, fungal, and skin diseases that are often due to non-compliance with hygiene principles. This study aimed to investigate the observance of health instructions regarding the prevention and control of Coronavirus disease in men's hairdresser salons in Birjand, Iran, in 2020. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 145 hairdresser salons in Birjand were selected through the random sampling method. The data collection tool was a checklist that was prepared according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 18) using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a significance level of ≤ 0.05. Results: The findings showed that the total mean score of the observance of workplace health and hygiene guidelines was 24.28±2.52 and the average observance of health instructions in the field of health and personal protection, building hygiene, tool and equipment hygiene, and food hygiene were 13.73±2.08, 2.31±0.68, 7.22±0.64, and 1.01±0.11, respectively. Observance of health instructions was found to have a significant relationship with age and geographical region (P≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems necessary to train hairdressers in terms of observing health instructions. Moreover, men’s hairdresser salons should be continuously monitored by health experts.