Public health messaging misses the mark on Monkeypox and HIV
A cross‑jurisdiction survey of publicly available Monkeypox and HIV materials from state, large metropolitan and select non‑metro U.S. health departments shows that key public‑facing resources often exceed recommended reading levels, vary widely in content and visual representation, and frequently fail to deliver clear, tailored guidance for at‑risk groups. Many state sites posted Mpox information, but materials commonly used high‑grade vocabulary and sentence structures that reduce accessibility for patients with limited health literacy; visual and messaging choices were inconsistent and sometimes reinforced stigma rather than providing culturally relevant outreach. Resource completeness also varied by jurisdiction, and metropolitan guidance was not uniformly comprehensive despite urban centers bearing much of the outbreak burden. These gaps matter to clinicians because unclear or absent public guidance undermines patient understanding, delays care-seeking, and complicates clinic counseling during outbreaks.
Read the full JDD article to review the state‑by‑state findings and practical recommendations, then consider partnering with local public‑health teams to simplify patient materials, ensure culturally sensitive visuals and translations, and help patients access trustworthy, easy‑to‑understand guidance.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2026;25(2): doi:10.36849/JDD.9568
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