Perceptions and Knowledge of Public Towards Emerging Human Monkeypox in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abdulsalam M Halboup; Karem H Alzoubi; Rana K Abu-Farha; Sabariah Noor Harun; Ahmed Al-Mohamadi; Mohammed M Battah; Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber; Sameer Alkubati; Fahmi Y Al-Ashwal

doi:10.2147/JMDH.S442296

Perceptions and Knowledge of Public Towards Emerging Human Monkeypox in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study

J Multidiscip Healthc. 2023 Nov 30:16:3689-3701. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S442296. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Abdulsalam M Halboup^{1

2}, Karem H Alzoubi^{3

4}, Rana K Abu-Farha⁵, Sabariah Noor Harun², Ahmed Al-Mohamadi¹, Mohammed M Battah^{1

2}, Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber⁶, Sameer Alkubati^{7

8}, Fahmi Y Al-Ashwal^{1

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana'a, Yemen.
² Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
³ Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
⁴ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
⁵ Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, 11931, Jordan.
⁶ Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
⁷ Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Hodeidah, Yemen.
⁸ Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq.

Abstract

Background: The spread of monkeypox (mpox) worldwide poses a severe threat to human life. This virus leads to a disease with symptoms similar to smallpox in humans. To combat this threat, improving public knowledge and perception toward mpox is vital for public health preventive measures.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Yemen from December 2022 to March 2023 to investigate public perception and knowledge of mpox. Individuals were approached through social media platforms using a convenient sampling approach. Linear regression was used to determine the association between participants' knowledge (dependent variable) and explanatory variables.

Results: A total of 853 individuals consented to take part in the study. A significant proportion of respondents had a low knowledge level (N=572, 67.06%). Most participants knew about the nature of the diseases (75%, n=641), transmission mode (78.1%, n=668), hand sanitizer preventive measures, and skin- related symptoms. However, only 20.8% (n= 178) knew that diarrhea is not a symptom, and 25.4% (n= 217) knew antibiotics are unnecessary for mpox management. A proportion of 57.7% (n=492) of the participants feared human mpox, and 47.7% (n= 407) thought it was a conspiracy. Most participants had a good perception of local and international health authorities controlling the disease. Age, education level, having a health-related certificate, and receiving a 2-dose vaccination for COVID-19 had statistically significant associations with mpox knowledge level (P < 0.05). Social media platforms were the most often used information source about mpox (78.3%, n= 668), followed by articles (41.1%, n=351).

Conclusion: The study reveals a low public knowledge about mpox in Yemen, emphasizing the need for targeted educational campaigns, especially via social media, to strengthen public health measures and disease control. Addressing Knowledge gaps and correcting misconceptions is crucial for improving preparedness and response to the disease.

Keywords: Yemen; monkeypox virus; outbreak; public knowledge; public perception.