Analysis of monkeypox prevention and transmission strategies as public health emergencies between 1988 and 2024

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review of the literature aims to comprehensively analyze available studies on viral diseases, taking into account aspects related to prevention and transmission mechanisms, and providing relevant contributions to their mitigation. The following research questions were posed: 1) What are the main epidemiological manifestations in humans because of MPOX? 2) What risk factors and transmission mechanisms drive the spread of MPOX in vulnerable populations? 3) What prevention strategies have proven effective in controlling MPOX globally? Methods: The selection of articles followed the guidelines established by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method and took into account highly relevant databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Subsequently, exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied to 58 scientific articles, all published in English and classified as journal articles. Results: The results revealed a high concentration of publications in recent years, with 2024 standing out as the year with the highest number of studies, at 48.28%. The papers were published mainly in the United States (27.59%), Spain (12.07%) and China (12.07%). In terms of methodological approaches, 74.14% of the studies adopted a quantitative approach, followed by a qualitative approach (18.97%) and a mixed approach (6.90%). Conclusion: there has been a remarkable increase in scientific production on monkeypox, which highlights the importance of addressing this issue in future research, reinforcing prevention strategies, strengthening international cooperation and improving health systems to address future outbreaks of the disease.