Knowledge of Mpox among secondary school students in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: knowledge and control of Mpox are of great importance to public health in order to facilitate change in unhealthy behaviors that could predispose one to an infectious agent. The study aimed at determining the knowledge of Mpox among students in Enugu state, Nigeria. Methods: a cross-sectional survey research method was applied. A sample of 384 students, selected through random and purposive sampling methods, was used. A 27-item self-developed questionnaire was the data collection instrument designed to elicit information about students' socio-demographics, knowledge about causes, transmission, signs and symptoms, and preventive practices of Mpox. Data was analysed using SPSS version 25, applying frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, and Chi-square statistic at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: only 41.3% had a good level of knowledge of Mpox disease. Secondary school students possessed an average level of knowledge of Mpox disease. 41% of students possessed a good level of knowledge of causes of Mpox; signs and symptoms (72.3%); transmission (40.7%), and prevention (65.7%). Age was significantly associated with a good level of knowledge of Mpox (p < 0.05), while gender, class level, and location were not significantly associated with a good level of knowledge of Mpox. Conclusion: students in secondary schools in Enugu state, Nigeria, had an average level of knowledge of Mpox disease. We recommend that Mpox education and awareness creation should go beyond school settings. The efforts of stakeholders during the COVID-19 outbreak should be replicated for the prevention and control of Mpox disease in Nigeria.