JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Understanding the factors associated with face mask usage could inform decision-making as regional outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases persist in areas with suboptimal vaccine coverage.

Objective:

To address existing knowledge gaps, we assessed face mask usage patterns among British Columbia COVID-19 Population Mixing Patterns (BC-Mix) survey respondents.

Methods:

Between September 2020 and July 2022, adult British Columbia residents completed the online BC-Mix survey, answering questions on the circumstances surrounding face mask usage or lack thereof, movement patterns, and COVID-19-related beliefs. Trends in face mask usage over time were assessed, and associated factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

Of the 44,301 respondents, 81.9% reported wearing face masks during the 23-month period. In-store and public transit mask mandates supported monthly face mask usage rates of approximately 80%, further bolstered up to 92% with the introduction of the provincial mask mandate. Face mask users mostly visited retail locations (51.8%) and travelled alone by car (49.6%), while non-users mostly traveled by car with others (35.2%) to their destinations; most commonly parks (45.7%). Non-users of face masks were much more likely to be male than female, especially in retail locations, and restaurants, bars and cafés. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for possible confounders, factors associated with face mask usage included age, ethnicity, health region, mode of travel, destination, and time period, with the odds of mask usage being greatest when mask mandates were in effect.

Conclusions:

Study findings provide added insight into the dynamics of face mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also demonstrate the utility of mask mandates in encouraging and sustaining high face mask usage rates during the first two years of the pandemic.