Being a Refugee Constitutes Risk to Early-Term Delivery

Introduction: The birth rate of Syrian refugees in Turkey arises. Therefore we aim to evaluate the birth characteristics of the infants born from Syrian refugee mothers and particularly emphasize the importance of perinatal care in refugees.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from October to December 2018. Medical records of Syrian and Turkish infants whose gestational age ≥37 weeks were retrospectively evaluated. Study infants in both groups were classified based on gestational age, as early term (37^0/7 – 38^6/7 weeks), full term and late term (39^0/7 – 41^6/7 weeks).

Analysis: The study includes 225 infants of whom 96 were Syrian and 129 were Turkish. Statistical analysis indicate a significant difference in gestational weeks, where Syrians were lower than Turkish (38.2±1.1 vs 39.1±1.4 weeks; p< 0.001). It was observed that 70% of Syrian infants were early-terms, with compare to 57% of Turkish infants (p<0.001). Syrian mothers had gained less weight throughout their pregnancies (10±4 kg vs 12±5 kg; p= 0.001). Maternal age, weight and body mass index, mode of delivery, and birth weight of the infants were similar between groups.

Results: Lower socio-economic condition of Syrian mothers or the stress they are exposed to, constitutes risk to an early-term delivery. Early term deliveries and related morbidity and mortality rates may be reduced if refugees have access to appropriate perinatal care.