Center of Population Sciences for Health Equity, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Centre for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Vaccine. 2024 Apr 2;42(9):2337-2346. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.083. Epub 2024 Mar 12.
Following the global mpox outbreak in 2022, multiple regions in Asia have been reporting ongoing mpox cases within high-risk groups, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). An optimal level of vaccination rate is essential to prevent further mpox outbreaks. However, no existing studies have examined mpox vaccine uptake among GBMSM in East Asia.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of 531 GBMSM in Hong Kong, China, between March and October 2023. The study used multivariable logistic regression models to investigate the associations between mpox-related disease perceptions, exposures to sources and contents of mpox-related information, and mpox vaccine uptake.
The prevalence of mpox vaccine uptake among GBMSM in Hong Kong was 21.7%, with 7.7% completing one dose and 13.9% completing two doses. GBMSM who were younger or earning less monthly income were less likely to have been vaccinated. After adjusting for confounding variables, participants who perceived more negative impacts on their lives if they were to contract mpox, more severe symptoms, and a more coherent understanding of mpox were positively associated with mpox vaccine uptake. In addition, more frequent exposure to information through the following sources: TV, newspaper, radio and posters, government websites, news websites or apps, other people's social media, and communication over the phone or face-to-face was positively associated with mpox vaccine uptake. Finally, more frequent exposure to the following information contents: mpox statistics from other countries, the Hong Kong government's responses to mpox cases, negative information about patients with mpox, and information on prevention and treatment of mpox were positively associated with mpox vaccine uptake.
This study provides timely and evidence-based implications to address health communication and messaging needs in promoting mpox vaccination among GBMSM in Hong Kong, relevant to regions with similar sociocultural contexts.
2022 年全球猴痘疫情爆发后，亚洲多个地区报告了包括男同性恋、双性恋和其他与男性发生性关系者（GBMSM）在内的高危人群中持续存在的猴痘病例。为了防止进一步爆发猴痘疫情，最佳的疫苗接种率至关重要。然而，目前尚无研究调查东亚地区 GBMSM 对猴痘疫苗的接种情况。
2023 年 3 月至 10 月期间，在中国香港对 531 名 GBMSM 进行了横断面调查。研究采用多变量逻辑回归模型，调查了与猴痘相关的疾病认知、接触与猴痘相关信息来源和内容，以及猴痘疫苗接种之间的关系。
香港 GBMSM 中猴痘疫苗接种率为 21.7%，其中 7.7%完成了一剂，13.9%完成了两剂。年龄较小或月收入较低的 GBMSM 接种疫苗的可能性较低。调整混杂变量后，认为如果感染猴痘对其生活有更大负面影响、症状更严重、对猴痘有更一致理解的参与者与猴痘疫苗接种呈正相关。此外，更多地通过以下来源接触信息：电视、报纸、广播和海报、政府网站、新闻网站或应用程序、他人的社交媒体、电话或面对面交流，与猴痘疫苗接种呈正相关。最后，更多地接触以下信息内容：其他国家的猴痘统计数据、香港政府对猴痘病例的应对措施、关于猴痘患者的负面信息、以及预防和治疗猴痘的信息，与猴痘疫苗接种呈正相关。
本研究为解决香港 GBMSM 中促进猴痘疫苗接种的健康传播和信息传递需求提供了及时和基于证据的建议，这与具有类似社会文化背景的地区有关。
