A five-year retrospective evaluation of perinatal outcomes in Syrian refugee and Turkish citizen pregnant women and their newborns at a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate and compare perinatal outcomes, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates, and neonatal immunization rates between Syrian immigrant and Turkish citizen pregnant women.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using hospital records of Syrian and Turkish citizen pregnant women who received care at a tertiary referral center between January 2019 and December 2024. Demographic characteristics, perinatal outcomes, and neonatal vaccination rates were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 10,565 pregnant women were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups based on nationality: 10,407 were of Turkish origin and 158 were of Syrian origin. The mean age of all participants was 31.48 ± 5.54 years. The mean gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks, and the average birth weight was 3191.92 ± 591.11 g. The mean age of Turkish pregnant women was 31.48 ± 5.52 years, while the mean age of Syrian pregnant women was 31.67 ± 6.47 years. The mean gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks for Turkish women and 39 weeks for Syrian women. The mean birth weight of newborns born to Turkish women was 3190 ± 591.25 g, whereas the mean birth weight of newborns born to Syrian women was 3267 ± 581.64 g. The mean duration of hospital stay post-delivery was 40.16 ± 10.77 h. The incidence of multiple pregnancies was 1.4%. Cesarean section was the most common mode of delivery, with a rate of 67%. The mean length of hospital stay for Turkish pregnant women was 40.19 ± 10.76 h, whereas it was 37.92 ± 11.39 h for Syrian pregnant women. The rate of multiple pregnancies was 1.5% among Turkish women and 1.3% among Syrian women. The overall cesarean section rate was 67.2% in Turkish women and 56.3% in Syrian women. Among newborns born to Turkish mothers, the rate of hepatitis B vaccination was 86.3%, and the rate of vitamin K administration was 89.3%. In newborns born to Syrian mothers, the hepatitis B vaccination rate was 82.9%, and the rate of vitamin K administration was 88%. Hepatitis B vaccine was administered to 86% of all newborns, and vitamin K injection was given to 89% of them. Secondary-level NICU admission was observed more often among neonates of Syrian immigrant mothers (38.6%) compared to Turkish citizens (32.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal outcomes were comparable between Syrian immigrant and Turkish citizen pregnant women. Although neonates born to immigrant mothers did not require advanced intensive care more frequently, the need for secondary-level NICU admission was higher.