Early marriage remains an important adolescent health and social issue because it may be associated with early pregnancy, reproductive health complications, interrupted education, and psychosocial consequences. Adequate knowledge among school-age adolescents is therefore important for informed decision-making and prevention efforts. This study aimed to describe the level of knowledge regarding early marriage among students of YAPIM senior high/vocational high schools in Medan. A descriptive quantitative design was used. Data were collected on 11 April 2026 at YAPIM, Jalan Air Bersih, Medan, using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 10 multiple-choice knowledge items covering the definition of early marriage, contributing factors, health risks, social and psychological consequences, prevention, and the role of schools. Each correct answer was scored 1 and each incorrect answer 0. Knowledge was categorized as good (76–100%), moderate (56–75%), or poor (<56%). The study involved 30 students, consisting of 12 males (40.0%) and 18 females (60.0%). The knowledge distribution showed that 10 respondents (33.3%) had good knowledge, 12 (40.0%) had moderate knowledge, and 8 (26.7%) had poor knowledge. Thus, 73.3% of respondents were in the good or moderate categories, while more than one-quarter still had poor knowledge. The findings indicate that knowledge about early marriage among students was heterogeneous and that a meaningful proportion of students still requires strengthening of information, particularly concerning long-term reproductive, educational, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences. School-based reproductive health education involving teachers and health professionals may be used as a preventive strategy. Further studies with larger samples and analytical designs are recommended to examine factors associated with knowledge and to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions.
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