Knowledge gap of human monkeypox among high-risk individuals receiving preexposure vaccination in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With the widespread outbreak of monkeypox, it is crucial to enhance awareness and understanding of the disease, especially among high-risk individuals. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge levels of individuals seeking preexposure vaccination in Taiwan. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted online, and included a nationwide sample of high-risk adults receiving preexposure vaccination. The questionnaire comprised 30 items with six aspects and explanatory variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that influenced participants' knowledge of human monkeypox. RESULTS: Among 2,604 participants, 97.3 % were male, 76.4 % identified as homosexual, and 24.4 % had a history of HIV infection. Approximately half of the participants displayed inadequate knowledge of human monkeypox, with weaker performance in diagnosis and treatment aspects. Using a multivariate logistic model, we found that those with a medical background or higher education level had a better understanding after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Among those with an educational level of college or below, men who had sex with men (MSM) without HIV displayed significantly lower knowledge levels (OR 0.68; 95 % CI 0.51-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: The existence of a knowledge gap within subgroups of MSM highlights the necessity for targeted educational interventions.