{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T15:14:15Z","timestamp":1787066055914,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762128000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Monkeypox (Mpox), caused by the Mpox virus, is an emerging zoonotic disease of global public health significance. In Zambia, limited data exist on laboratory professionals\u2019 (LPs) preparedness to manage and prevent Mpox outbreaks. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding Mpox among LPs in Zambia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 293 LPs across Zambia from April to August 2025. A structured, validated questionnaire assessed socio-demographic data and KAP toward Mpox. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed using Stata version 15.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Of the 293 respondents, 52.2% demonstrated good knowledge, 47.4% had a positive attitude, and 7.5% exhibited good Mpox-related practices. Significant knowledge gaps were observed, including limited awareness of Mpox transmission (62.5%), complications (76.1%). Additionally, 72% of LPs expressed willingness or support for mandatory Mpox vaccination. LPs working in health centres\/clinics (AOR\u2009=\u20090.07; 95% CI: 0.009\u20130.54; p\u2009=\u20090.11), private hospitals (AOR\u2009=\u20090.05; 95% CI: 0.003\u20130.74; p\u2009=\u20090.030), public hospitals (AOR\u2009=\u20090.06; 95% CI: 0.011\u20130.39; p\u2009=\u20090.003), and research or academic institutions (AOR\u2009=\u20090.10; 95% CI: 0.01\u20130.77; p\u2009=\u20090.027) were significantly less likely to report good Mpox-related practices compared to those working in district or provincial health offices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study highlights a low knowledge, a relatively low positive attitude, and poor practices toward Mpox among Zambian LPs. Identified gaps underscore the important need for targeted education and capacity-building initiatives to enhance Mpox preparedness and response.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0335365","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T18:23:22Z","timestamp":1762194202000},"page":"e0335365","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Mpox among laboratory professionals in Zambia: A cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3765-0635","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"David","family":"Chisompola","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John","family":"Nzobokela","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elijah","family":"Chinyante","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nanjela","family":"Chidima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Allen","family":"Chipipa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charlotte","family":"Nyirenda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Edward","family":"Phiri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lucky","family":"Kalyapu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4376-5831","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sepiso K.","family":"Masenga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0335365.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.2174\/011570162X293673240427062123","article-title":"Assessment of Knowledge and Concern of People Living with HIV Regarding Human Mpox and Vaccination","volume":"22","author":"D Borcak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Curr HIV Res"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1288139","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1288139","article-title":"Current knowledge of human Mpox viral infection among healthcare workers in Cameroon calls for capacity-strengthening for pandemic preparedness","volume":"12","author":"AD Nka","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref003","first-page":"15","article-title":"Smallpox, Monkeypox and Other Human Orthopoxvirus Infections","author":"GA Shchelkunova","year":"2023","journal-title":"Viruses"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref004","article-title":"First Clade Ib Monkeypox Virus Infection Reported in the Americas \u2014 California, November 2024","author":"V. Levy","year":"2025","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335365.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1007\/s44370-025-00009-w","article-title":"Mitigation approaches of monkeypox outbreaks in developing countries","volume":"2","author":"M Yadesa Tesema","year":"2025","journal-title":"Discov Viruses"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0335365.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1737","DOI":"10.3390\/v16111737","article-title":"Mpox Resurgence: A Multifaceted Analysis for Global Preparedness","volume":"16","author":"F Mohamed Abdoul-Latif","year":"2024","journal-title":"Viruses"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0335365.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1833","DOI":"10.1086\/425039","article-title":"Human monkeypox infection: a family cluster in the midwestern United States","volume":"190","author":"JJ Sejvar","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"issue":"38","key":"pone.0335365.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1800509","DOI":"10.2807\/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.38.1800509","article-title":"Two cases of monkeypox imported to the United Kingdom, September 2018","volume":"23","author":"A Vaughan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Euro Surveill"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"980","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2505.190076","article-title":"Diagnosis of imported monkeypox, Israel, 2018","volume":"25","author":"N Erez","year":"2019","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0335365.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1225","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591-024-02862-6","article-title":"Mpox continues to spread in Africa and threatens global health security","volume":"30","author":"K Mercy","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat Med"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref011","author":"CDC. 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Nguyen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sage Open"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23779608231216619","DOI":"10.1177\/23779608231216619","article-title":"Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Human Monkeypox Virus Infection among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"9","author":"MKK Rony","year":"2023","journal-title":"SAGE Open Nurs"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0335365.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1302","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(23)00352-3","article-title":"Mpox vaccine and infection-driven human immune signatures: an immunological analysis of an observational study","volume":"23","author":"H Cohn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis"},{"key":"pone.0335365.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3689","DOI":"10.2147\/JMDH.S442296","article-title":"Perceptions and Knowledge of Public Towards Emerging Human Monkeypox in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study","volume":"16","author":"AM 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COVID-19 on YouTube: A Data-Driven Analysis of Sentiment, Toxicity, and Content Recommendations. In: 2025 IEEE 15th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC) [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Sep 9]. p. 00715\u201323. 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