Comprehensive Analysis of Mpox Prevention and Control Policies in China: a Three-Dimensional Framework for Policy Tool Evaluation.

In 2023, the emergence of the mpox virus (MPXV) subclade Ⅰb in the Democratic Republic of the Congo triggered a new wave of mpox outbreaks that subsequently spread to other African countries and beyond. Policies provide the framework for mpox epidemic prevention and control in China, requiring systematic analysis of policy evolution and content characteristics. This study employs policy tool theory to construct a three-dimensional analytical framework encompassing policy instruments (X), policy objects (Y), and policy measures (Z), and utilizes content analysis methodology to evaluate China's national regulatory mpox prevention and control policies. The results demonstrate that China's national-level mpox prevention and control policies are in substantial agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) core recommendations, with distinct emphases on the application of policy instruments, policy objects and policy measures, the prioritization of comprehensive epidemic response capabilities, and aligning with both domestic and international mpox epidemic conditions and national prevention strategies. Moving forward, China should further enhance its mpox prevention and control system resilience by optimizing vaccine strategies and expanding social mobilization initiatives.