Comparison of the pregnancy and newborn results of Turkish pregnant women and Syrian refugee pregnant women

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to compare the pregnancy and newborn out-comes of Turkish pregnant women and Syrian refugee pregnant women.
METHODS: This two-centered study was carried out retrospectively on 5505 pregnant women between 2016 and 2019 in Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Health Training and Research Hospital and Akçakale State Hospital.
RESULTS: The study was conducted with a total of 5505 pregnant women, whose ages ranged from 13 to 48. 2766 of the cases were Turkish and 2739 of them were Syrian. Antenatal follow-up rates of Syrian cases were significantly lower than of Turkish cases (p<0.001). The incidence of pre-eclampsia (PE) in Turkish cases (11.1%) was statistically significantly higher than in Syrian cases (2.6%) (p<0.001). The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Turkish cases (9.7%) was statistically significantly higher than in Syrian cases (1%) (p<0.001). The incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in Turkish cases (6.5%) was statistically significantly higher than in Syrian cases (1.9%). (p<0.001). While the rates of normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD) and cesarean section without episiotomy were higher in Turkish cases, the rate of NSVD with episiotomy was higher in Syrian cases (p<0.001). The mean values of antepartum, postpartum hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit of Turkish cases were statistically significantly higher than Syrian cases (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, we determined that adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy at younger age, inadequate antenatal follow-up rates, and the rate of birth with interventions were high in Syrian immigrants, and Hb values were low due to insufficient nutritional support. We also determined that PE, GDM, oligohydramnios, and polyhydramnios were common in Turkish population, and the need for neonatal intensive care and amount of postpartum bleeding was similar in both groups.