CHANGES IN THE INCIDENCE OF BIRTH TRAUMA FOLLOWING A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE: A SINGLE-CENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the change in the incidence of birth trauma after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake and to compare it with the one year before the earthquake. Material and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, all live births that occurred at Malatya Turgut Özal University Faculty of Medicine Hospital during the one year before and the one year after the earthquake were examined, with February 2023 excluded. Maternal and neonatal data of cases diagnosed with birth trauma were obtained from hospital records. Traumas were classified as soft tissue, bone, nervous system, and intra-abdominal injuries. Results: A total of 10,325 live births occurred over the two-year period. Birth trauma was detected in 86 cases (1.38%) among 6,228 births in the pre-earthquake period and in 102 cases (2.49%) among 4,097 births in the post-earthquake period (p < 0.001). In both periods, no significant differences were found in terms of demographic characteristics, mode of delivery, presentation, prematurity rates, macrosomia, and maternal risk factors. Although the distribution of trauma types was similar, soft tissue injuries were the most frequent. Conclusion: A significant increase in the incidence of birth trauma was found in the post-earthquake period. It is thought that this may be associated with disruptions in access to health services, irregular antenatal follow-ups, and the psychological impact of the disaster process on healthcare workers and pregnant women. The importance of planning to increase the sustainability of perinatal care during disaster periods is once again emphasized.

Keywords

• Birth trauma
• earthquake
• newborn
• perinatal outcomes
• disaster health

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received from any institution or person

Ethical Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare

Büyük Bir Deprem Sonrası Doğum Travması İnsidansındaki Değişiklikler: Tek Merkezli Retrospektif Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, 2023 Kahramanmaraş merkezli depremin ardından doğum travması insidansında meydana gelen değişimi değerlendirmeyi ve deprem öncesi bir yıllık dönemle karşılaştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tek merkezli, retrospektif olarak tasarlanan bu çalışmada, Şubat 2023 dışlanarak depremden bir yıl önce ve bir yıl sonra Malatya Turgut Özal Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi’nde gerçekleşen tüm canlı doğumlar incelendi. Doğum travması tanısı konan olguların maternal ve neonatal verileri hastane kayıtlarından elde edildi. Travmalar yumuşak doku, kemik, sinir sistemi ve intraabdominal yaralanmalar olarak sınıflandırıldı. Bulgular: İki yıllık dönemde toplam 10.325 canlı doğum gerçekleşti. Deprem öncesi dönemde 6.228 doğumda 86 (%1,38) olguda, deprem sonrası dönemde ise 4.097 doğumda 102 (%2,49) olguda doğum travması saptandı (p<0,001). Her iki dönemde demografik özellikler, doğum şekli, prezentasyon, prematürite oranları, makrozomi ve maternal risk faktörleri açısından anlamlı fark bulunmadı. Travma türlerinin dağılımı benzer olmakla birlikte en sık yumuşak doku yaralanmaları görüldü. Sonuç: Deprem sonrası dönemde doğum travması insidansında anlamlı bir artış saptandı. Bu durumun sağlık hizmetlerine erişimdeki aksaklıklar, gebelik takiplerinin düzensizleşmesi ve sağlık çalışanları ile gebelerin afet sürecinden psikolojik olarak etkilenmeleri ile ilişkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Afet dönemlerinde perinatal bakımın sürdürülebilirliğinin artırılmasına yönelik planlamaların önemi bir kez daha ortaya çıkmaktadır.

Keywords

• Doğum travması
• deprem
• yenidoğan
• perinatal sonuçlar
• afet sağlığı

Supporting Institution

Çalışmada hiçbir kuurm ya da kişiden finansal destek alınmamıştır.

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar arasında herhangi bir çıkar çatışması bulunmamaktadır

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