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Abstract
Poor personal hygiene remains a preventable contributor to diarrhoeal disease, helminthiasis, skin infection, dental caries and missed school days among adolescents in rural southeastern Nigeria. This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group study examined a six-week Health Belief Model programme among public secondary school students in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Enugu State.The population comprised 2,186 junior and senior secondary students in eight public schools. A cluster-adjusted power analysis justified recruiting 280 students from four schools assigned to intervention (n = 140) or wait-list control (n = 140). Complete-case analysis retained 260 students (intervention 132, control 128; 92.9% retention). Pilot reliability was acceptable (α = .76–.87). Groups were equivalent at baseline. ANCOVA showed large effects on knowledge, F(1, 257) = 198.42, p < .001, η²p = .436, d = 1.93; attitude, F(1, 257) = 214.56, p < .001, η²p = .455, d = 1.94; and composite practice, F(1, 257) = 176.33, p < .001, η²p = .407, d = 1.80, with parallel subscale gains. Sex and class did not moderate the practice effect. Structured school health education improved hygiene outcomes and should be paired with WASH investment in Isi-Uzo.