Abstract
Background and aims: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Considering the critical role of masks in controlling this disease, this study was conducted to investigate the behavior of wearing masks in rural areas of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in ten villages, randomly selected (using simple random sampling) from the subordinate villages of Khorram-Abad district, Lorestan province. Methods: A researcher invited passersby to participate in the study in each selected village (convenient sampling). The field phase of the study began on August 9, 2019, and continued until the end of October, culminating in the attainment of the target sample size of 600 participants. The questionnaire contained two sets of questions: one about factors influencing the risk of catching COVID-19 and the other about the participants' awareness of the disease's symptoms. Results:. Of the 600 passers-by interviewed, 255 (42.5%) wore their masks correctly, 57 (9.5%) wore them incorrectly, and 288 (48.0%) did not wear a mask at all. The only variable that showed a significant relationship with mask use was gender (51.3% of women vs. 33.6% of men; P-value < 0.001; T-test). Most participants (58.0%; 95% CI: 53.9% to 62.0%) believed that wearing a mask was the best way to prevent COVID-19 transmission (P-value < 0.001; linear-by-linear test). Conclusion: This study's findings show that the rural communities of Lorestan province need to improve their knowledge of the correct way to wear a mask, making an educational campaign necessary.