Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Monkeypox (Mpox) Among Medical Students in Telangana, India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Introduction Monkeypox (Mpox) is a reemerging zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. Medical students, as future healthcare providers, are critical to outbreak preparedness. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning mpox among medical students and professionals in Telangana, India. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences between December 2024 and May 2025. A total of 219 participants, including 205 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students, six postgraduates (PGs), five interns, and three physicians, completed a validated 32-item questionnaire comprising 16 knowledge, eight attitude, and eight practice items. The validity and reliability of the KAP questionnaire were confirmed (Cronbach’s α: 0.76). Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Dunn’s post hoc test with Bonferroni correction, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman’s correlation, with η² effect sizes and 95% CIs reported. Results Participants were predominantly female (65.3%) and aged 20-22 years (52.5%). Mean scores were as follows: knowledge, 7.26±2.65; attitude, 4.19±1.51; practice, 3.17±1.64; and total KAP, 14.62±4.49. Sex-based differences were non-significant (p>0.05). Age influenced outcomes: participants aged ≥23 years had higher attitude scores (median 5; H=7.02; p=0.030; η²=0.08; 95% CI: 0.02-0.14; Bonferroni-adjusted p=0.048 vs. 17-19 years) and practice scores (median 4; H=7.64; p=0.022; η²=0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.13; adjusted p=0.044). Knowledge differences across age groups were modest (H=6.94; p=0.031; η²=0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.12) but were not significant after correction. Educational level affected attitudes (H=6.11; p=0.048; η²=0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.13), with PGs and physicians scoring higher than MBBS students; practices showed a non-significant trend (p=0.097). First-year students had the lowest total KAP score (18.08±5.15), while PGs achieved the highest score (23.83±5.91). Knowledge correlated moderately with attitude (ρ=0.40, p<0.001) and weakly with practice (ρ=0.28, p<0.001); attitude correlated moderately with practice (ρ=0.33, p<0.001). Preventive practices remained consistently low across all groups. Conclusion Medical students in Telangana demonstrated moderate knowledge and favorable attitudes toward mpox but critically low preventive practices. Advancing age and higher educational levels were associated with improved attitudes and practices, although knowledge gains plateaued. The gap between awareness and application underscores the need for competency-based curricular reforms emphasizing hands-on infection-control training to strengthen outbreak preparedness.