Bakare D, Salako J, Sogbesan A, Olojede O E, Bakare A A
Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2024 Apr 30;22(1):76-87.
Since the resurgence of mpox disease in 2017, Nigeria alone has accounted for about 60% of confirmed cases reported in the African region. This study therefore aimed to understand the knowledge and perception of the general public towards the mpox infection.
We conducted a cross-sectional study among 958 community members across three states (Oyo, Lagos and Jigawa) in Nigeria. Knowledge of mpox infection was assessed across four domains: (1) general knowledge, (2) transmission, (3) signs and symptoms, and (4) prevention and treatment where we assigned a score of 1 for each correct response. Binary logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with knowledge of mpox infection at 5% level of significance. We assessed perception of mpox infection across 5 constructs (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy) from the health belief model, using 3-point Likert scales. We used Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney- U tests to assess factors associated with each construct.
Overall, only about one-third (38.3%) of community members were aware of mpox infection. There were variations in perceptions and knowledge across the three states. Knowledge of mpox infection transmission, prevention, and treatment was low across the states. Only 28.9% of respondents knew that sharing utensils with an infected person is a means of contracting the disease, and just 15.9% were aware that mpox infection may resolve spontaneously. The mean of general knowledge scores was higher in Jigawa 14.8 (±3.2) compared to Lagos 12.1 (±4.1) and Oyo states 12.5 (±5.6) (p<0.001).Respondents with tertiary-level education (p=0.001) were significantly more likely to perceive themselves as susceptible to mpox while males (p<0.001) and respondents who live in Jigawa state (p=0.002) were significantly more likely to perceive mpox as severe with 90.5% believing that being infected will stop their daily activity (p<0.001). Perceived barriers to adherence to mpox preventive strategies were higher in Jigawa state (p<0.001), with 68.3% reporting that use of hand sanitizers might be expensive for them.
The analysis of our findings revealed significant knowledge gaps and a very low level of public awareness about mpox. Key areas of limited knowledge included the disease's route of transmission, as well as its prevention and treatment. To control the spread of mpox infection, there is need to strengthen public health risk communication focusing on the transmission and preventive actions.
自2017年猴痘疾病再度出现以来，仅尼日利亚就占非洲地区报告确诊病例的约60%。因此，本研究旨在了解公众对猴痘感染的认知和看法。
我们在尼日利亚三个州（奥约州、拉各斯州和吉加瓦州）的958名社区成员中进行了一项横断面研究。从四个方面评估对猴痘感染的认知：（1）一般知识，（2）传播途径，（3）体征和症状，以及（4）预防和治疗，每个正确答案得1分。进行二元逻辑回归以探索在5%显著性水平下与猴痘感染知识相关的因素。我们使用3分李克特量表，从健康信念模型的5个维度（感知易感性、感知严重性、感知益处、感知障碍和自我效能）评估对猴痘感染的看法。我们使用Kruskal-Wallis检验和Mann-Whitney-U检验来评估与每个维度相关的因素。
总体而言，只有约三分之一（38.3%）的社区成员知晓猴痘感染。三个州的认知和知识存在差异。各州对猴痘感染传播、预防和治疗的知识水平较低。只有28.9%的受访者知道与感染者共用器具是感染该疾病的一种途径，只有15.9%的人知道猴痘感染可能会自行痊愈。吉加瓦州的一般知识得分均值为14.8（±3.2），高于拉各斯州的12.1（±4.1）和奥约州的12.5（±5.6）（p<0.001）。受过高等教育的受访者（p=0.001）更有可能认为自己易感染猴痘，而男性（p<0.001）和居住在吉加瓦州的受访者（p=0.002）更有可能认为猴痘严重，90.5%的人认为感染会影响他们的日常活动（p<0.001）。吉加瓦州对遵守猴痘预防策略的感知障碍更高（p<0.
