Predictors of Mpox Knowledge Among Residents of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

In the world of public health, the battle against infectious diseases is often won or lost long before a virus reaches a hospital. It is won or lost in the minds of the community, where knowledge acts as the first line of defense. When a disease like Mpox, a viral infection that can spread from animals to people and between humans, begins to circulate, the speed and accuracy of public understanding determine how quickly it is contained. If people do not recognize the early signs, such as a distinctive skin rash or swollen glands, they may not seek help until it is too late, allowing the virus to spread further. Conversely, if communities know where to turn for reliable advice and trust the sources providing it, they can protect themselves and others. The challenge lies in understanding exactly who knows what, where they learned it, and why some groups remain in the dark while others are well-informed.

Researchers set out to map this landscape of knowledge in Akwa Ibom State, a region in southern Nigeria with a mix of bustling cities and quiet rural villages. They wanted to see if a person's age, their family life, or the way they get their news changed how much they knew about Mpox. To do this, a team of scientists visited 475 adults across the state, asking them a series of questions about their lives and their understanding of the disease. They used a digital tool to record answers on handheld devices, ensuring the data was collected efficiently and securely. The goal was not just to count how many people had heard of Mpox, but to uncover the specific factors that made someone more likely to know the facts about the virus.

The study revealed that while a solid majority of the people surveyed, nearly 70 percent, knew about Mpox, there were clear patterns in who knew the most. Age played a significant role; older adults were much more likely to be informed than their younger neighbors. This suggests that as people grow older, they accumulate more health information through life experience and repeated exposure to public health messages. Similarly, being married was a strong predictor of knowledge. Married individuals were twice as likely to know about the disease compared to those who were single, widowed, or divorced. The researchers believe this is because married people often share information within their households and have more frequent interactions with community networks where health news travels. Interestingly, a person's gender or their job did not make a difference in what they knew, showing that the gap in knowledge was not about being a man or a woman, or a farmer or an office worker, but rather about life stage and social connections.

Where people chose to get their information mattered just as much as who they were. The study found that trust in specific sources was a powerful driver of knowledge. People who trusted healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses, were far more likely to know the facts about Mpox. This trust extended to the digital world as well; those who relied on social media for information had more than three times the odds of being knowledgeable compared to those who did not. Traditional broadcast media, like radio and television, also played a vital role, nearly doubling the chances of a person being informed. However, the study also uncovered a concerning trend regarding traditional sources. People who relied primarily on traditional leaders or healers for their information were less likely to know the correct facts about the disease. This suggests that while these community figures are respected, they may not yet be fully integrated with official health messages, or they may be passing along outdated or incorrect information.

The researchers also looked at how deep this knowledge went. Among the people who said they knew about Mpox, the vast majority could correctly identify the two most common signs: a skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. This is a crucial finding because recognizing these specific symptoms is the first step in getting medical help early. However, the knowledge was not perfect. Fewer people could name other symptoms like fever or muscle aches, indicating that while the public has a basic grasp of the disease, there is still room for improvement in understanding the full picture. The study did not prove that one factor caused another, as it was a snapshot in time, but it clearly showed strong links between age, marital status, trusted information sources, and the level of knowledge a person possessed.

Ultimately, the work in Akwa Ibom State paints a picture of a community that is largely aware of Mpox but still has gaps that need filling. The findings suggest that to stop the spread of the virus, health officials cannot rely on a single method of communication. Instead, they need a strategy that combines the credibility of doctors, the wide reach of radio and television, and the speed of social media. At the same time, there is a need to work harder to bring traditional community leaders into the fold, ensuring they have the correct information to share. By tailoring messages to reach younger, unmarried individuals and by strengthening the link between formal health advice and traditional community structures, public health efforts can become more effective. The goal is to ensure that when the next threat emerges, the entire community, regardless of age or background, is equipped with the knowledge to stay safe.