Healthcare Workers’ Preparedness for Monkeypox Pandemic Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Rapid Review Investigating the Knowledge Gap.
Arole Darwin Touko*, Ruth Tabi Amin, Gordon Takop Nchanji*, Fabrice Zobel Lekeumo Cheuyem, Claude Nkfusai Ngwayu, Narcisse Victor Tchamatchoua Gandjui, Abdel Jelil Njouendou and Fanny Nadia Dissak-Delon
Abstract
Background: Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus endemic to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where its resurgence underscores the urgent need for improved preparedness among health care workers (HCWs). Despite the potential of a One Health approach, current implementations remain fragmented. This rapid review synthesises evidence on HCWs' knowledge, attitudes, information sources, and barriers to preparedness regarding Mpox in SSA to identify training needs and policy implications.
Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched using MeSH terms and Boolean operators for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Studies assessing HCW knowledge, attitudes, or preparedness for Mpox in SSA with full-text availability in English or French were included; those involving non-HCW populations, conducted outside SSA, or lacking primary data were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data using a standardised template; quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies.
Results: Five studies from 388 records were included (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, DRC; n = 1,672 HCWs). Only 46.8% of HCWs demonstrated adequate Mpox knowledge. Barriers included reliance on social media and limited access to formal training. Positive attitudes towards prevention correlated with higher knowledge levels.
Conclusion: Fewer than half of SSA HCWs demonstrate adequate Mpox knowledge despite a regional case fatality rate nearly ten times the global average; positive attitudes are not translating into clinical preparedness, reflecting a critical intention-action gap; and social media dominates as an information source, underscoring the need for peer-reviewed alternatives within a One Health training framework.
