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Birth characteristics of Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens in Turkey in 2015
Author(s) -
Demirci Hakan,
Yildirim Topak Nevruz,
Ocakoglu Gokhan,
Karakulak Gomleksiz Mehtap,
Ustunyurt Emin,
Ulku Turker Ayse
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12088
Subject(s) - turkish , syrian refugees , refugee , medicine , pediatrics , obstetrics , political science , law , philosophy , linguistics
Objective To compare the birth characteristics of Syrian refugees with those of Turkish citizens. Methods In a retrospective study, data were obtained for singleton live births that occurred at a hospital in Bursa, Turkey, between June 1 and December 31, 2015. All Syrian refugees were eligible for inclusion; one Turkish citizen was included for each refugee. Results Overall, 545 Syrian refugees and 545 Turkish citizens were included. Cesarean delivery was undertaken for 176 (32.3%) Syrians and 235 (43.1%) Turks ( P <0.001). Median neonatal birth weight was higher among Turkish citizens (3300 g, range 970–4720) than among Syrian refugees (3110 g, range 540–4790; P <0.001). Gestational diabetes was recorded for 42 (7.7%) Turkish citizens and 9 (1.7%) Syrian refugees ( P <0.001). Pre‐eclampsia affected 21 (3.9%) Turkish citizens and 8 (1.5%) Syrians ( P =0.014). Conclusion Cesarean delivery is more common among pregnant Turkish citizens than among Syrian refugees. Other notable differences between the groups were recorded.