Knowledge of Viral Hepatitis Transmission Among Secondary School Students in Bauchi State

Viral hepatitis, encompassing infections caused by Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses, constitutes a major communicable disease burden in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone, yet health literacy on transmission routes among adolescents remains inadequate. This study assesses the level of knowledge regarding viral hepatitis transmission among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey will recruit 500 students from 10 public secondary schools across Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, and Dass local government areas using multi-stage random sampling. A structured, self-administered questionnaire will evaluate awareness of hepatitis virus types, transmission modes (bloodborne, enteric, sexual, vertical), symptom recognition, and preventive measures including vaccination. Knowledge scores will be graded and associations with sex, class level, parental education, and prior health education exposure assessed. Studies from northern Nigerian secondary schools report low hepatitis-specific knowledge, with misconceptions about casual contact transmission contributing to stigma. Findings will provide state-level data for the Bauchi State Secondary Education Board and the Ministry of Health to integrate viral hepatitis into school health curricula, targeting adolescents before high-risk sexual debut and occupational exposure. This study supports Nigeria's implementation of the World Health Assembly resolution on viral hepatitis and strengthens the case for adolescent-targeted hepatitis awareness campaigns. Keywords: viral hepatitis, knowledge, secondary school students, Bauchi State, transmission