The 2022 global mpox outbreak highlighted significant public health challenges, with men who have sex with men (MSM) accounting for 86.7% of confirmed cases. As a high-risk group, MSM faced not only the direct health impacts of mpox but also an additional burden of stigma and discrimination, which severely hindered their willingness to seek care and access timely medical services. This article explores mpox-related stigma and discrimination and their profound impact on healthcare-seeking behaviors among MSM, drawing on evidence from global studies. We examine how stigma affects individual decision-making and has broader public health implications by exacerbating healthcare delays during the outbreak. In response, we propose actionable strategies to mitigate stigma, including providing accurate and responsible communication, strengthening community and social support network, building capacity for frontline workers, and engaging affected individuals for effective intervention. By integrating stigma-reduction measures into pandemic preparedness and response, public health systems can better support vulnerable populations, improve healthcare access, and ensure a more effective response to future outbreaks.
基金:
Key discipline projects of Shanghai Three-Year Action Plan for Public Health [GWVI-11.1-29]; Science and Technology Commission Shanghai Municipality [20JC1410204]; Public Health Research Project from Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Administration [2024GKM30]
第一作者机构:[1]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Tongren Hosp, Publ Hlth Res Ctr, Sch Med, Shanghai 200335, Peoples R China[2]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Shanghai 200025, Peoples R China
共同第一作者:
通讯作者:
通讯机构:[1]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Tongren Hosp, Publ Hlth Res Ctr, Sch Med, Shanghai 200335, Peoples R China[2]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Shanghai 200025, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Liu Yujie,Zhang Jiechen,Cai Yong.Mpox-related stigma and healthcare-seeking behavior among men who have sex with men[J].GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY.2025,10(1):doi:10.1186/s41256-025-00418-w.
APA:
Liu, Yujie,Zhang, Jiechen&Cai, Yong.(2025).Mpox-related stigma and healthcare-seeking behavior among men who have sex with men.GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY,10,(1)
MLA:
Liu, Yujie,et al."Mpox-related stigma and healthcare-seeking behavior among men who have sex with men".GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY 10..1(2025)