Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye

Cemil Özal; Eda Burç; Özden Gökçek; Mintaze Kerem Günel

Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate participation and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy (CP) living in Turkiye and to compare the findings with Turkish children with CP matched for age and gross motor function level. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 25 Syrian refugee children with CP and 25 Turkish children with CP aged 5-18 years. Participation was evaluated using the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP), and HRQoL was assessed using the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children and Teenagers (CP HRQoL-Child&Teen). All children were classified by the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Results: Syrian children with CP demonstrated significantly lower participation levels across all CASP domains compared with Turkish children with CP, including home participation (p=0.004), school participation (p=0.047), community participation (p=0.004), and home/community living activities (p=0.003). The CASP total score was also significantly lower in Syrian children (43.89±14.48) compared with Turkish children (59.25±19.13; p=0.004). Similarly, Syrian children had significantly lower HRQoL scores in all CP HRQoL domains, including general well-being and participation (p<0.001), communication and physical health (p=0.008), school situation (p=0.002), and social well-being (p=0.001). Conclusion: Syrian refugee children with CP living in Turkiye experience lower participation and HRQoL compared with Turkish children with CP. These findings highlight the influence of migration-related socioeconomic and environmental disadvantages on participation and well-being and emphasize the need for accessible rehabilitation services, inclusive social policies, and culturally sensitive support systems for refugee children with disabilities.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Cemil Özal ^*
0000-0001-5692-3814
Türkiye

Eda Burç
0000-0002-4127-8426
Türkiye

Özden Gökçek
0000-0003-3396-4108
Türkiye

Mintaze Kerem Günel
0000-0003-4942-5272
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

June 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özal, C., Burç, E., Gökçek, Ö., & Kerem Günel, M. (2026). Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(6), 1099-1106. https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA

AMA

1.Özal C, Burç E, Gökçek Ö, Kerem Günel M. Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(6):1099-1106. https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA

Chicago

Özal, Cemil, Eda Burç, Özden Gökçek, and Mintaze Kerem Günel. 2026. “Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life of Syrian Refugee Children With Cerebral Palsy in Turkiye”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (6): 1099-1106. https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA.

EndNote

Özal C, Burç E, Gökçek Ö, Kerem Günel M (October 1, 2026) Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 6 1099–1106.

IEEE

[1]C. Özal, E. Burç, Ö. Gökçek, and M. Kerem Günel, “Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 1099–1106, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA

ISNAD

Özal, Cemil - Burç, Eda - Gökçek, Özden - Kerem Günel, Mintaze. “Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life of Syrian Refugee Children With Cerebral Palsy in Turkiye”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/6 (October 1, 2026): 1099-1106. https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA.

JAMA

1.Özal C, Burç E, Gökçek Ö, Kerem Günel M. Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:1099–1106.

MLA

Özal, Cemil, et al. “Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life of Syrian Refugee Children With Cerebral Palsy in Turkiye”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1099-06, https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA.

Vancouver

1.Cemil Özal, Eda Burç, Özden Gökçek, Mintaze Kerem Günel. Participation and health-related quality of life of Syrian refugee children with cerebral palsy in Turkiye. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;8(6):1099-106. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA65NF62KA