Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about monkeypox in the general population of Paraguay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53732/rccsalud/2024.e6153Keywords:
mpox, knowledge, attitud, Paraguay, public healthAbstract
Introduction. Monkeypox, or mpox, has transformed from an endemic disease in Africa to a global concern with an alarming increase in cases worldwide since May 2022. This rapid spread led the WHO to declare mpox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Objective. To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to monkeypox (mpox) in the general population of Paraguay during 2024. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed through social media and messaging applications. The questionnaire was previously validated by an expert panel and a pilot test. Results. 319 participants were included, with a gender distribution of 50.8% female. The most represented age group was 30-44 years (35.1%). 55.8% reported university education and 80.3% resided in Asunción and Central. Only 2.5% of participants showed a high level of knowledge about mpox. 62.1% perceived mpox as a serious threat to public health. Willingness to be vaccinated against mpox was high, with 79.6% indicating that they would or probably get vaccinated. Conclusion. This study identifies important knowledge gaps about mpox in the general population of Paraguay, but also reveals favorable attitudes toward prevention and control of the disease.
References
Bunge EM, Hoet B, Chen L, Lienert F, Weidenthaler H, Baer LR, et al. The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox—A potential threat? A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16(2):e0010141. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010141
World Health Organization. Multi-country outbreak of monkeypox, External situation report #1 - 6 July 2022. Geneva: WHO; 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-monkeypox--external-situation-report--1---6-july-2022
Adler H, Gould S, Hine P, Snell LB, Wong W, Houlihan CF, et al. Clinical features and management of human monkeypox: a retrospective observational study in the UK. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;22(8):1153-1162. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00228-6
Thornhill JP, Barkati S, Walmsley S, Rockstroh J, Antinori A, Harrison LB, et al. Monkeypox Virus Infection in Humans across 16 Countries - April-June 2022. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(8):679-691. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2207323
Launiala A. How much can a KAP survey tell us about people's knowledge, attitudes and practices? Some observations from medical anthropology research on malaria in pregnancy in Malawi. Anthropology Matters. 2009;11(1). https://doi.org/10.22582/am.v11i1.31
Yoder PS. Negotiating relevance: Belief, knowledge, and practice in international health projects. Med Anthropol Q. 1997;11(2):131-146. https://doi.org/10.1525/maq.1997.11.2.131
Piltch-Loeb R, Savoia E, Goldberg B, Hughes B, Verhey T, Kayyem J, et al. Examining the effect of information channel on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. PLoS One. 2021;16(5):e0251095. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251095
Person B, Sy F, Holton K, Govert B, Liang A. Fear and stigma: the epidemic within the SARS outbreak. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(2):358-363. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1002.030750
McCollum AM, Damon IK. Human monkeypox. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;58(2):260-267. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit703
Rimoin AW, Mulembakani PM, Johnston SC, Lloyd Smith JO, Kisalu NK, Kinkela TL, et al. Major increase in human monkeypox incidence 30 years after smallpox vaccination campaigns cease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107(37):16262-16267. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1005769107
Brewer NT, Chapman GB, Gibbons FX, Gerrard M, McCaul KD, Weinstein ND. Meta-analysis of the relationship between risk perception and health behavior: the example of vaccination. Health Psychol. 2007;26(2):136-145. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.26.2.136
MacDonald NE; SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):4161-4164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.036
Petersen E, Kantele A, Koopmans M, Asogun D, Yinka-Ogunleye A, Ihekweazu C, et al. Human Monkeypox: Epidemiologic and Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Prevention. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2019;33(4):1027-1043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2019.03.001
Saadh MJ, Ghadimkhani T, Soltani N, Abbassioun A, Cosme Pecho RD, taha A, et al. Progress and prospects on vaccine development against monkeypox infection. Microb Pathog. 2023;180:106156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106156
Nolen LD, Osadebe L, Katomba J, Likofata J, Mukadi D, Monroe B, et al. Introduction of Monkeypox into a Community and Household: Risk Factors and Zoonotic Reservoirs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015;93(2):410-415. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0168
Zajacova A, Lawrence EM. The Relationship Between Education and Health: Reducing Disparities Through a Contextual Approach. Annu Rev Public Health. 2018;39:273-289. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044628
Jenkins EK, Slemon A, Richardson C, Pumarino J, McAuliffe C, Thomson KC, et al. Mental Health Inequities Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From Three Rounds of a Cross-Sectional Monitoring Survey of Canadian Adults. Int J Public Health. 2022;67:1604685. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604685
Bethlehem J, Biffignandi S. Handbook of Web Surveys. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2012.
Krumpal I. Determinants of social desirability bias in sensitive surveys: a literature review. Qual Quant. 2013;47(4):2025-2047. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-011-9640-9
Gesser-Edelsburg A, Shir-Raz Y. Risk Communication and Infectious Diseases in an Age of Digital Media. London: Routledge; 2016.
Gollust SE, Nagler RH, Fowler EF. The Emergence of COVID-19 in the US: A Public Health and Political Communication Crisis. J Health Polit Policy Law. 2020;45(6):967-981. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-8641506
Herek GM, Capitanio JP, Widaman KF. HIV-related stigma and knowledge in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1991-1999. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(3):371-377. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.92.3.371
Heymann DL, Wilder-Smith A. Successful Smallpox Eradication: What Can We Learn to Control COVID-19? Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;27(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa090
Singhal A, Rogers EM. Entertainment-Education: A Communication Strategy for Social Change. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1999.
Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL. Modern Epidemiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
Glanz K, Rimer BK, Viswanath K. Health Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practice. 5th ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2015.
Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349-357. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042
.png)
All the contents of this journal are licensed under a 