Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to compare the maternal and obstetric outcomes between local adolescent Turkish citizens and adolescent Syrian refugees admitted to a tertiary care center in Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 2014 and December 2019, a total of 57,049 births were performed in our hospital. The study included a total of 6,021 patients aged 19 years or younger pregnancy who gave birth at our hospital. Of this number, 5,164 (1,792 Syrian adolescent refugee cases and 3,372 local adolescent Turkish cases) were live singleton pregnancies. Our primary aim was to compare the maternal and obstetric outcomes between the two groups. RESULTS: In the pregnant refugee women, the maternal age was younger (p<0.001). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are significantly lower in Syrian pregnant women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Anemia was significantly higher in Syrian refugee pregnant women (p<0.001). The double screening test and triple screening test were significantly lower in Syrian pregnant women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Preterm birth rates and late preterm delivery prevalence (34-37 gestational weeks) were significantly higher in the adolescent Syrian immigrants' compared to the adolescent Turkish locals (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The average birth weight of the Syrian refugees was lower but the number of low birth weight babies was higher Turkish locals (p=0.010 and p=0.014, respectively). The preterm birth ratio and low birth weight ratio in Syrian adolescents has decreased over the years. CONCLUSION: Syrian adolescent refugees are particularly at risk of early pregnancy, high fertility rate, preterm birth, low birth weight, and anemia. Immigrant women should be provided with fertility, family planning, and training on behavior that protects reproductive health. Syrian pregnant women should be supported to receive services.
Highlights
Adolescence is a period in which an individual sees an emergence of secondary sexual characters, acceleration of her/his growth, and attainment of fertility
Anemia was significantly higher in Syrian refugee pregnant women (p
Immigrant women should be provided with fertility, family planning, and training on behavior that protects reproductive health
Summary
Adolescence is a period in which an individual sees an emergence of secondary sexual characters, acceleration of her/his growth, and attainment of fertility This period refers to the transition from childhood to adulthood, and the World Health Organization (WHO) states that this period occurs between the ages of 10 and 19 years [1]. Pregnancies occurring in young women who have not yet reached the desired maturity levels in accordance with physical, psychological, and social aspects in all the countries of the world are a crucial public health problem. Pregnancies during this period negatively affect the health of both the mother and to-be-born baby. Prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), perinatal mortality, a need for newborn intensive care, and increased rates of interventional delivery and cesarean section are likely to occur in adolescent pregnancies [1,3,4]
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