Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 49, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 815-820

Neonatal outcomes in Syrian and other refugees treated in a tertiary hospital in Turkey (Article) (Open Access)

Çelik İ.H.* , Arslan Z. , Ulubaş Işik D. , Tapisiz Ö.L. , Mollamahmutoğlu L. , Baş A.Y. , Demirel N.
  • a Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  • b Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  • c Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  • d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  • e Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
  • f Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
  • g Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Background/aim: Turkey accepts refugees from many countries, principally Syria. More than 2.7 million refugees live in Turkey. We evaluated the neonatal outcomes of refugees. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and demographic characteristics of refugee infants born in our hospital between August 2013 and September 2016. Results: Refugees (718 Syrian, 136 Iraqi, 32 Afghani, and 21 of other nationalities) accounted for 907 of 49,413 births. The mean refugee maternal age was lower than that of Turkish women, whereas the gestational age (GA) and birthweight were similar. Refugees required fewer cesarean sections but exhibited greater small- and large-for-GA rates (P < 0.05). Refugee and Turkish infant mortality rates did not differ significantly (0.8 vs. 0.4%). Eighty-nine (12.3%) refugee neonates and 6682 (13.5%) Turkish neonates were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Jaundice and perinatal asphyxia were significantly more common in refugees, whereas respiratory distress syndrome, GA ≤ 32 weeks, and infant birthweight <2000 g were more common in Turkish infants. The total NICU admission cost of approximately 450,000 USD was paid by the Turkish government. Conclusion: The numbers of refugees and refugee births continue to grow. The Turkish people and government have provided medical, social, and economic support to date; international assistance is needed. © TÜBİTAK.

Author Keywords

Refugees Syrian neonatal outcomes

Index Keywords

abdominal distension newborn care fetus distress refugee hospitalization vomiting Maternal Age premature fetus membrane rupture bilirubin perinatal asphyxia follow up human bradycardia Turkey (republic) muscle hypotonia neonatal intensive care unit jaundice Adolescent male female Infant newborn Apgar score tachypnea hypoglycemia enterocolitis tachycardia Article apnea polycythemia extremely low birth weight low birth weight lung dysplasia major clinical study Syrian cyanosis mortality rate cephalopelvic disproportion pneumonia preeclampsia Infant Mortality meconium aspiration retrospective study sepsis hypotension gestational age cesarean section respiratory distress Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069498233&doi=10.3906%2fsag-1806-86&partnerID=40&md5=3f4c16710d83341e250c736862dfa95b
DOI: 10.3906/sag-1806-86
ISSN: 13000144
Original Language: English