Knowledge, attitude, and perception of monkeypox among medical/health students across media space in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus (MPXV). Although monkeypox existed and declined in the past, its re-emergence is simultaneous with the rise in cases recently.Methods: This study utilized a non-interventional, anonymous, self-administered web-based survey through a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data from medical/health students (undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students). The E-questionnaire was administered from 22nd July to 5th August through social media, and the data collected and extracted through an excel spreadsheet was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0.Results: A total of 203 respondents were obtained from 22nd July to 5th August, out of which 109 (53.7%) were females, 92 (45.3%) were males with 18-25 years (63.5%), 25-30 years (26.6%), <30 years (7.4%) and <18 years (2.5%) age groups. Of the total respondents, 94.1% have heard about monkeypox before, 59.1% believed that monkeypox could be managed, 80.8% believed that monkeypox is zoonotic but can be transferred from human to human, and the majority (60.1%) are aware of the symptoms of monkeypox.Conclusions: Medical/health students across social media show a relatively high knowledge of the Monkeypox virus with significant knowledge gap regarding the evolving epidemiologic and clinical manifestations, and the variety of components implicated in monkeypox transmission. Nonetheless, the knowledge is to be sustained and reinforced through continued awareness on social media and in rural areas with a high percentage of basic internet coverage and literacy. In order to direct proper surveillance, data collecting, readiness, and response operations, public health/surveillance capacities in Nigeria must be urgently developed.