Peer-reviewed article
Effect of school-based early marriage education on adolescent knowledge of early marriage, parenting readiness, and child health
Adelgrit Trisia, Dian Mutiasari, Lia Sasmithae, Ira Jayanti, Margareth Karina Elisinta et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5The study tested a single school-based education session on early marriage with 89 adolescents in Palangka Raya. Knowledge was measured with the same questionnaire before and after the session. Scores rose significantly afterwards, with more students in the good and very good categories for knowledge of early marriage, parenting readiness and child health consequences. The authors say the findings support adding early marriage education to school health programmes, but that controlled studies with follow-up are needed.
Key points
- 89 adolescents from Christian Vocational High Schools and State Islamic Senior High Schools Model Palangka Raya took part in 2025.
- A single session used interactive presentations and discussion.
- Knowledge improved significantly after the intervention (p < 0.001).
- Post-test results shifted toward the good and very good categories for all three knowledge areas.
- The authors call for controlled studies with follow-up to check whether knowledge gains last and affect behaviour.
Limitations
There was no comparison group and only short-term knowledge was measured, so the study cannot show lasting knowledge, changes in behaviour, or actual effects on marriage or child health. Palangka Raya is in Indonesia, which the document does not state outright, so the country code is inferred from the location.
Abstract
Introduction: Early marriage is a persistent public health problem with intergenerational consequences for adolescents, mothers, and children. Because knowledge is a modifiable determinant of health behavior, school-based education may strengthen adolescents’ understanding of early marriage, parenting readiness, and child health risks. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a school-based early marriage education session on adolescents’ short-term knowledge of early marriage, parenting readiness, and child health consequences. Method: The study used a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design involving 89 adolescents at Christian Vocational High Schools and State Islamic Senior High Schools Model Palangka Raya in 2025. A single educational session was delivered using interactive presentations and discussion. Knowledge was measured before and after the intervention using the same structured questionnaire, and paired comparisons were analyzed with the Wilcoxon test. Results: Knowledge improved significantly after the intervention (p < 0.001). Post-test findings showed a clear shift toward the good and very good categories for knowledge about early marriage, parenting readiness, and the child health consequences of early marriage. Conclusion: A brief school-based educational intervention was effective in improving adolescents’ short-term knowledge. The findings support integrating early marriage education into school health programs while highlighting the need for controlled studies with follow-up to assess persistence of knowledge gains and behavioral relevance.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- A single school-based educational session on early marriage using interactive presentations and discussion
- Population
- 89 adolescents at Christian Vocational High Schools and State Islamic Senior High Schools Model Palangka Raya, 2025
Key finding
Knowledge scores improved significantly after the session (p < 0.001).
Trisia et al. · Crossref · 11 Mar 2026