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

Implications for surveillance and response

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19594048
AutoresSydney Merritt (0000-0002-4039-605X, University of Southern California, autor de correspondencia), Megan Halbrook (0000-0002-3892-2655, University of Southern California, autor de correspondencia), Yvon Anta (National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Patrick Mukadi (0000-0001-9312-9345, University of Kinshasa, autor de correspondencia), Emmanuel Hasivirwe Vakaniaki (0009-0006-0795-7157, National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Tavia Bodisa-Matamu (National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Lygie Lunyanga (0009-0006-0127-1250, National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Cris Kacita (0009-0004-0227-7609, Ministry of Public Health, autor de correspondencia), Jean Paul Kompany, Jean Paul Kompany-Kisenzele (0009-0002-0904-6956, University of Kinshasa, autor de correspondencia), Jean-Claude Makangara-Cigolo (0000-0002-1791-2247, University of Bern, autor de correspondencia), Michel Kenye (National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Sifa Kavira (National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Thierry Kalonji (0000-0002-5646-1784, Ministry of Public Health, autor de correspondencia), Sylvie Linsuke (0000-0003-4283-0435, National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Emile Malembi (Ministry of Public Health, autor de correspondencia), Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Daniel Mukadi‐Bamuleka (0000-0002-6836-8704, University of Kinshasa, autor de correspondencia), Liliane Sabi (National Institute of Biomedical Research, autor de correspondencia), Candice Lemaille (University of Manitoba, autor de correspondencia), Marie Clotilde Inaka (Ministry of Public Health, autor de correspondencia), Nicholas Low (0000-0003-4817-8986, University of Bern, autor de correspondencia), Lisa E Hensley (0000-0003-1188-4342, National Agricultural Statistics Service, autor de correspondencia), Nicole A Hoff (0000-0002-1770-6304, University of Southern California, autor de correspondencia), Robert Shongo (Ministry of Public Health, autor de correspondencia), Jason Kindrachuk (0000-0002-3305-7084, University of Manitoba, autor de correspondencia), Anne W Rimoin (0000-0002-0662-9067, University of Southern California, autor de correspondencia), Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Placide Mbala‐Kingebeni (0000-0003-1556-3570, University of Kinshasa, autor de correspondencia)
EditoresJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Año2025
Volumen5
Número8
Páginase0003857
Fecha de publicación2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
EditorialPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003857
PMID40749025
OpenAlexW4412837381
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas10

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