A peer-educator driven approach for sampling populations at increased mpox risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Implications for surveillance and response.

ABSTRACT: 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 pro

SUBMITTER: Merritt S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12316315 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature