Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract BackgroundThe 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Uptake of mpox testing may be related to symptomology, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral characteristics....
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| Online Access: | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e57399 |
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| author | Kaitlyn Atkins Thomas Carpino Amrita Rao Travis Sanchez O Winslow Edwards Marissa Hannah Patrick S Sullivan Yasmin P Ogale Winston E Abara Kevin P Delaney Stefan D Baral |
| author_facet | Kaitlyn Atkins Thomas Carpino Amrita Rao Travis Sanchez O Winslow Edwards Marissa Hannah Patrick S Sullivan Yasmin P Ogale Winston E Abara Kevin P Delaney Stefan D Baral |
| author_sort | Kaitlyn Atkins |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundThe 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Uptake of mpox testing may be related to symptomology, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral characteristics.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe suspected mpox symptoms and testing uptake among a sample of GBMSM recruited via the internet in the United States in August 2022.
MethodsWe conducted a rapid internet-based mpox survey from August 5 to 15, 2022, among cisgender men 15 years and older who had previously participated in the 2021 American Men’s Internet Survey. We estimated the prevalence of suspected mpox symptoms (fever or rash or sores with unknown cause in the last 3 mo) and uptake of mpox testing. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs for associations between participant characteristics and suspected mpox symptoms and summarized characteristics of GBMSM reporting mpox testing. Among symptomatic GBMSM who did not receive mpox testing, we described testing self-efficacy, barriers, and facilitators.
ResultsOf 824 GBMSM, 126 (15.3%) reported at least 1 mpox symptom in the last 3 months; 58/126 (46%) with rash or sores, 57 (45.2%) with fever, and 11 (8.7%) with both. Increased prevalence of suspected mpox symptoms was associated with condomless anal sex (CAS; aPR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06‐2.20). Mpox testing was reported by 9/824 GBMSM (1%), including 5 with symptoms. Most GBMSM reporting mpox testing were non-Hispanic White men (7/9 vs 1 Black and 1 Hispanic or Latino man), and all 9 lived in urban areas. Most reported having an sexually transmitted infections test (8/9), 2 or more partners (8/9), CAS (7/9), and group sex (6/9) in the last 3 months. Of those tested, 3 reported living with HIV and all were on treatment, whereas the remaining 6 men without HIV reported current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Of symptomatic GBMSM who did not report mpox testing, 47/105 (44.8%) had low mpox testing self-efficacy. Among those with low self-efficacy, the most common barriers to testing were not knowing where to get tested (40/47, 85.1%) and difficulty getting appointments (23/47, 48.9%). Among those with high testing self-efficacy (58/105, 55.2%), the most common facilitators to testing were knowing where to test (52/58, 89.7%), convenient site hours (40/58, 69%), and low-cost testing (38/58, 65.5%).
ConclusionsWhile all GBMSM who reported testing for mpox were linked to HIV treatment or PrEP, those with symptoms but no mpox testing reported fewer such links. This suggests targeted outreach is needed to reduce structural barriers to mpox services among GBMSM in rural areas, Black and GBMSM, and GBMSM living with HIV. Sustaining and scaling community-tailored messaging to promote testing and vaccination represent critical interventions for mpox control among GBMSM in the United States. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc91939d8c2642dc9078ba2473b1b87e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2369-2960 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc91939d8c2642dc9078ba2473b1b87e2025-01-27T04:54:34ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602025-01-0111e57399e5739910.2196/57399Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional StudyKaitlyn Atkinshttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8302-542XThomas Carpinohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7776-2578Amrita Raohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9596-2418Travis Sanchezhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1133-4762O Winslow Edwardshttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6440-0626Marissa Hannahhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-3255Patrick S Sullivanhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7728-0587Yasmin P Ogalehttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1882-6535Winston E Abarahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4679-0154Kevin P Delaneyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7562-7647Stefan D Baralhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5482-2419 Abstract BackgroundThe 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Uptake of mpox testing may be related to symptomology, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral characteristics. ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe suspected mpox symptoms and testing uptake among a sample of GBMSM recruited via the internet in the United States in August 2022. MethodsWe conducted a rapid internet-based mpox survey from August 5 to 15, 2022, among cisgender men 15 years and older who had previously participated in the 2021 American Men’s Internet Survey. We estimated the prevalence of suspected mpox symptoms (fever or rash or sores with unknown cause in the last 3 mo) and uptake of mpox testing. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs for associations between participant characteristics and suspected mpox symptoms and summarized characteristics of GBMSM reporting mpox testing. Among symptomatic GBMSM who did not receive mpox testing, we described testing self-efficacy, barriers, and facilitators. ResultsOf 824 GBMSM, 126 (15.3%) reported at least 1 mpox symptom in the last 3 months; 58/126 (46%) with rash or sores, 57 (45.2%) with fever, and 11 (8.7%) with both. Increased prevalence of suspected mpox symptoms was associated with condomless anal sex (CAS; aPR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06‐2.20). Mpox testing was reported by 9/824 GBMSM (1%), including 5 with symptoms. Most GBMSM reporting mpox testing were non-Hispanic White men (7/9 vs 1 Black and 1 Hispanic or Latino man), and all 9 lived in urban areas. Most reported having an sexually transmitted infections test (8/9), 2 or more partners (8/9), CAS (7/9), and group sex (6/9) in the last 3 months. Of those tested, 3 reported living with HIV and all were on treatment, whereas the remaining 6 men without HIV reported current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Of symptomatic GBMSM who did not report mpox testing, 47/105 (44.8%) had low mpox testing self-efficacy. Among those with low self-efficacy, the most common barriers to testing were not knowing where to get tested (40/47, 85.1%) and difficulty getting appointments (23/47, 48.9%). Among those with high testing self-efficacy (58/105, 55.2%), the most common facilitators to testing were knowing where to test (52/58, 89.7%), convenient site hours (40/58, 69%), and low-cost testing (38/58, 65.5%). ConclusionsWhile all GBMSM who reported testing for mpox were linked to HIV treatment or PrEP, those with symptoms but no mpox testing reported fewer such links. This suggests targeted outreach is needed to reduce structural barriers to mpox services among GBMSM in rural areas, Black and GBMSM, and GBMSM living with HIV. Sustaining and scaling community-tailored messaging to promote testing and vaccination represent critical interventions for mpox control among GBMSM in the United States.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e57399 |
| spellingShingle | Kaitlyn Atkins Thomas Carpino Amrita Rao Travis Sanchez O Winslow Edwards Marissa Hannah Patrick S Sullivan Yasmin P Ogale Winston E Abara Kevin P Delaney Stefan D Baral Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |
| title | Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Suspected Mpox Symptoms and Testing in Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | suspected mpox symptoms and testing in men who have sex with men in the united states cross sectional study |
| url | https://publichealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e57399 |
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