Evaluation of feto-maternal and fertility characteristics of Syrian women giving birth in a Turkey hospital

Batu Ersavas, Zehra Kilinc

Abstract

This study examined the health and fertility patterns of 100 Syrian women who gave birth at a hospital in Diyarbakir, Turkey, between February and April 2022. Findings revealed a mean age of 26.5 years, with participants having lived in Turkey for approximately 5.5 years. The data indicated early marriages (average age 18.3 years) and first births (19.6 years), alongside high fertility rates (mean number of pregnancies: 3.4; births: 2.9). While 64% received antenatal care and 70% had normal deliveries with healthy newborns (normal Apgar scores), the study highlighted significant challenges, including low educational attainment, insufficient prenatal care, and limited use of modern family planning methods. Despite these risk factors, favourable birth outcomes were frequently observed. The findings underscore the need to enhance access to prenatal care, expand family planning education, and improve educational opportunities to promote better reproductive health among Syrian women in Turkey.

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