Knowledge and Attitudes of Healthcare Workers Toward the Re-Emergence of Human Monkeypox Virus Infection in Public Health Facilities in the Central Ethiopia Region: An Online Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Human monkeypox (mpox) is a re-emerging zoonotic viral disease in Africa. Despite recent reports in Ethiopia, no studies have assessed healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge and attitudes in the Central Ethiopia Region. This study aimed to determine HCWs knowledge and attitudes toward the re-emergence of mpox in public health facilities.

METHODS

From June 16 to 28, 2025, 419 HCWs were chosen at random for an online cross-sectional study. The data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. We used SPSS version 26 for the statistical analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitudes. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

Of the 419 participants, 46.8% (95% CI: 42.0-51.7) had good knowledge, while 43.4% (95% CI: 39.1-48.0) showed positive attitudes. Good knowledge were significantly positively associated with a master's degree or higher (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI: 1.60-7.47), health officer (AOR = 7.00; 95% CI: 3.20-15.32) and pharmacist (AOR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.17-6.13), low (AOR = 5.15; 95% CI: 2.02-13.10) and medium monthly income (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.32-4.20), and positive attitude (AOR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.25-3.59), in contrast significantly negatively associated with work experience (5-10 years) (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.07-0.24). Positive attitudes were significantly positively associated with medical doctor (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 2.39-9.55), and information about mpox during medical education (AOR = 3.29; 95% CI: 1.91-5.67), in contrast significantly negatively associated with female sex (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.08-0.41), age ≥ 32 years (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.28-0.73), and lack of current information access (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26-0.88).

CONCLUSION

HCWs had low levels of knowledge and positive attitudes toward mpox. To get better at being ready for and responding to mpox in Ethiopia, it is important to strengthen continuing professional education, target training, and raise awareness.