Correct use of mask during the COVID-19 pandemic process and factors affecting mask use according to the socioecological model

Introduction: COVID-19 is a disease that is transmitted through respiratory transmission and has caused a pandemic that has had a great impact on society. Purpose: Research; It aims to evaluate the correct mask use behavior in society based on direct observation and notification during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the factors affecting mask use behavior with the Socioecological Model. Method: The data of the community-based cross-sectional study were collected from "Sociodemographic Questionnaire", "Declarative Mask Use Index", "Micro System Questionnaire", which were created by researchers by scanning the literature from 352 people in Mersin center between April and August 2021. It was collected using the ''Meso and Macro System Evaluation Form''. In analyzing data descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA and Hierarchical regression analysis were used. p≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: 59.1% of the participants are secondary/high school or associate degree graduates, 54.5% are actively working in an income-generating job, and 24.4% have a chronic disease. Individual factors from microsystem structures account for 22.4% and 15.8% of the variance in notification and observation-based mask use, respectively; health-related factors accounted for 12.7% and 0.5% of the variance, respectively; Outcome expectation regarding mask use, mask wearing self-efficacy, and risk perception regarding COVID-19 disease accounted for 13% and 9.2% of the variance; Among mesosystem structures, social norm accounts for 6% and 6.4% of the variance; Among the macro system structures, trust in pandemic management, doubt about mask use, and mask image explain 1.62% and 1.3% of the variance, respectively. Conclusion: The most important variables predicting mask use based on notification and observation are microsystem structures. Meso- and macro-system structures also have a low level of impact. In epidemic situations that may require the use of masks in the future, it is recommended to develop integrated plans/policies that primarily address individual factors and include meso and macro system structures.