A review of the social and behavioural science research landscape for mpox in African settings

Despite mpox no longer being a global public health emergency as of September 2025, it remained an African Public Health Emergency of Continental Security until 22 January 2026. As the Africa CDC notes, this does not mark the end of mpox in Africa. As of January 2026, a critical gap remains in social and behavioural science (SBS) research on mpox. Expanding the social science research evidence base will be important to future mpox response and public health emergency response more widely. This report maps and synthesises SBS studies on mpox in sub-Saharan Africa from 2017 until December 2025. Our team conducted a comprehensive scoping exercise using multiple approaches: online database searches, consultation with research networks, funder repository searches, and direct outreach to institutions and researchers across Africa. An online deliberative dialogue in November 2025 brought together researchers to discuss emergent findings and identify gaps in SBS evidence. Our team also built on evidence shared in the mpox symposium held in Kinshasa in November 2025. This iterative approach allowed the review to remain responsive to both published and emerging evidence in a rapidly evolving research environment.