JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The 2022 mpox epidemic 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.

Objective:

To describe suspected mpox symptoms and testing uptake among an online sample of GBMSM in the U.S. in August 2022.

Methods:

We conducted a rapid online mpox survey from August 5–15, 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/sores with unknown cause in the last 3 months) and uptake of mpox testing. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (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.

Results:

Of 824 GBMSM, 126 (15.3%) reported at least one mpox symptom in the last 3 months; 58/126 (46.0%) with rash/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 five with symptoms. Most GBMSM reporting mpox testing were non-Hispanic white (7/9 vs one Black, one Hispanic/Latino) and all nine lived in urban areas. Most reported having an STI test (8/9), two or more partners (8/9), CAS (7/9), and group sex (6/9) in the last 3 months. Of those tested, three reported living with HIV and all were on treatment whereas the remaining six 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, 69.0%), and low-cost testing (38/58, 65.5%).

Conclusions:

While 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 Hispanic/Latino 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 U.S.