Human monkeypox and preparedness of Bangladesh: A knowledge and attitude assessment study among medical doctors

Mehedi Hasan; Mohammad Ali Hossain; Sreshtha Chowdhury; Pranta Das; Ishrat Jahan; Md Ferdous Rahman; Miah Md Akiful Haque; Md Utba Rashid; Md Abdullah Saeed Khan; Mosharop Hossian; Mohammad Hayatun Nabi; Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2022.11.032

Human monkeypox and preparedness of Bangladesh: A knowledge and attitude assessment study among medical doctors

J Infect Public Health. 2023 Jan;16(1):90-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.11.032. Epub 2022 Dec 6.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Public Health Professional Development Society (PPDS), Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.
² Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital, Kallyanpur, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Statistics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
⁵ International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
⁶ Public Health Professional Development Society (PPDS), Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.
⁷ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
⁸ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Pi Research Consultancy Center, Lalbagh, Dhaka 1211, Bangladesh.
⁹ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mohammad.hawlader@northsouth.edu.

Abstract

Objective: The recent increasing incidence of human monkeypox cases highlights the necessity of early detection, prompt response and preventive management to stop it in its tracks, and healthcare workers play the most crucial role here. This study aims at assessing the preparedness of Bangladeshi medical doctors by assessing their knowledge and attitude regarding monkeypox.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the practicing medical doctors all over Bangladesh. The data was collected from 26th May to 4th June of 2022 using a semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire which was distributed through the internet, and a total of 389 data was collected. The cut-off points for defining good knowledge and positive attitude towards human monkeypox were considered as 70% and 80% of total values, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the factors associated with good knowledge and a positive attitude. Statistical software R version 4.2.0 was used for data analysis.

Result: Of all, 330 (84.83%) doctors displayed a positive attitude towards preventive practices, but only 119 (30.59%) participants had good knowledge regarding monkeypox. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, getting any information about monkeypox in the medical curriculum and learning about monkeypox within the last one month had a significant association with good knowledge. Apart from the participant's age, no other variables revealed any significant association with a positive attitude toward preventive practices. Good knowledge showed a significant association with positive attitude (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Knowledge regarding human monkeypox among medical doctors in Bangladesh was comparatively lower than the attitude towards its preventive measures. Developing and implementing practical sessions regarding the virus to enhance the knowledge and capacity of the medical doctors could be an effective strategy to get prepared for the monkeypox outbreak in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Medical doctors; Monkeypox; Pandemic; Viral outbreak.

MeSH terms

Bangladesh / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Mpox (monkeypox)*
Physicians*