Public Health Strategies Against Social Stigma in the Mpox Outbreak: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and Aim: In May 2022, the emergence of an outbreak of the Mpox virus was observed across multiple countries, precipitating swift global dissemination. The present Mpox outbreak exhibits unusual characteristics in contrast to antecedent occurrences. A salient peculiarity is the noteworthy incidence of confirmed cases among men who have sex with men. The aim of this research is to discern, within the current scientific literature, the most pertinent and efficacious public health strategies for preventing or mitigating Mpox-related social stigmatization. Methods: Employing the PRISMA model, a systematic review was conducted utilizing PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, encompassing articles published from January 2022 to January 2024. Public health strategies to prevent or mitigate Mpox social stigmatization were systematically recorded and summarized for subsequent analysis. Results: Seven articles were identified and analyzed. None of the evaluated articles presented a comprehensive approach concerning public health strategies to counteract social stigmatization amid the Mpox outbreak scenario. The examined studies emphasize the pivotal role of interventions within three axes for public health strategies: awareness and training of healthcare professionals, targeted and sensitive communication addressing the needs of different affected groups, and medical care measures ensuring anonymity and respect for patients. Conclusion: Confronting the proposed strategies with the key issues that trigger stigmatization, it becomes evident that a nuanced calibration of these strategies is required for optimizing the efficacy of public health guidelines implementation. Furthermore, attention to the mental health of Mpox patients is a crucial dimension that cannot be overlooked, given the psychological vulnerability of these individuals, arising from both the disease itself and social stigmatization.