A peer-educator driven approach for sampling populations at increased mpox risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Implications for surveillance and response

Bibliographic Data

ID19594048
AuthorsSydney Merritt (0000-0002-4039-605X, University of Southern California, corresponding author), Megan Halbrook (0000-0002-3892-2655, University of Southern California, corresponding author), Yvon Anta (National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Patrick Mukadi (0000-0001-9312-9345, University of Kinshasa, corresponding author), Emmanuel Hasivirwe Vakaniaki (0009-0006-0795-7157, National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Tavia Bodisa-Matamu (National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Lygie Lunyanga (0009-0006-0127-1250, National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Cris Kacita (0009-0004-0227-7609, Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Jean Paul Kompany, Jean Paul Kompany-Kisenzele (0009-0002-0904-6956, University of Kinshasa, corresponding author), Jean-Claude Makangara-Cigolo (0000-0002-1791-2247, University of Bern, corresponding author), Michel Kenye (National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Sifa Kavira (National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Thierry Kalonji (0000-0002-5646-1784, Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Sylvie Linsuke (0000-0003-4283-0435, National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Emile Malembi (Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Daniel Mukadi‐Bamuleka (0000-0002-6836-8704, University of Kinshasa, corresponding author), Liliane Sabi (National Institute of Biomedical Research, corresponding author), Candice Lemaille (University of Manitoba, corresponding author), Marie Clotilde Inaka (Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Nicholas Low (0000-0003-4817-8986, University of Bern, corresponding author), Lisa E Hensley (0000-0003-1188-4342, National Agricultural Statistics Service, corresponding author), Nicole A Hoff (0000-0002-1770-6304, University of Southern California, corresponding author), Robert Shongo (Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Jason Kindrachuk (0000-0002-3305-7084, University of Manitoba, corresponding author), Anne W Rimoin (0000-0002-0662-9067, University of Southern California, corresponding author), Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Placide Mbala‐Kingebeni (0000-0003-1556-3570, University of Kinshasa, corresponding author)
EditorsJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Year2025
Volume5
Issue8
Pagese0003857
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003857
PMID40749025
OpenAlexW4412837381
LanguageEN
References cited10

The epidemiological risk factors associated with mpox acquisition and severity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are changing. We assessed perceived mpox risk, and behavioral, clinical and sexual histories among key populations at risk of acquisition through sexual contact. Here, we describe a sampling strategy to enroll participants considered to be at increased risk for mpox infection - men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (SW) - in three urban centers in the DRC. Through the combined approach of time-location sampling with peer educators and respondent-driven sampling, a mixed cohort of 2826 individuals including self-identified MSM (n = 850), SW (n = 815), both MSM and SW (n = 118) and non-MSM, non-SW individuals (n = 1043) were enrolled in Kinshasa, Kinshasa province, Kenge, Kwango province, and Goma, North Kivu province, from March-August 2024. Of these, over 90% were reached through peer educators. The odds of sampling SW individuals were higher at bars/clubs than traditional health facilities. Conversely, the odds of enrolling MSM were highest at selected health facilities. Modifications to the sampling approach were introduced in Kenge and Goma, but these did not affect the enrollment of MSM or SW participants. Ultimately, the selection of, and collaboration with, well-integrated peer educators was the most important facet of this sampling strategy. As the definitions of at-risk populations continue to change for mpox, we demonstrate a functional approach to quickly surveying otherwise hard-to-reach groups for both public health surveillance activities and response

Cohort · Environmental health · Family medicine · Logistic regression · Men who have sex with men · Odds · Odds ratio · Political science · Public health · Respondent · Sociology · Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology · Demography · Medicine · Nursing · Poxvirus research and outbreaks · Virology and Viral Diseases · Epidemiology · Gerontology