Clinical Research
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Acil Serviste Küçük Bir Mülteciyim: Mülteci Çocuklarda Travma Maruziyeti ve Sonuçları

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 428 - 433, 24.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.33631/sabd.1691977

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, acil servise fiziksel travma nedeniyle başvuran mülteci çocukların travma mekanizmaları, klinik özellikleri ve sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu geriye dönük gözlemsel çalışma, 1 Ocak 2020- 31 Aralık 2024 tarihleri arasında Düzce Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi Acil Servisi’nde yürütülmüştür. Fiziksel travma nedeniyle başvuran, 18 yaş altı ve mülteci veya geçici sığınmacı statüsünde olan çocuk hastalar çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Demografik veriler, travma nedenleri, klinik ve laboratuvar bulgular ile hasta sonuçları analiz edilmiştir. Psikolojik travma olguları dışlanmıştır. Yabancı uyruklu olan, ancak iş, gezi ya da eğitim gibi sığınma talebi dışında nedenlerle ülkeye giriş yapan çocuklar dışlanmıştır.
Bulgular: Toplam 167 hasta çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Hastaların medyan yaşı 11 (IQR: 4–14) yıl, %37,1’i kızdır. En sık travma nedenleri düşme (%45,5), oyun kazası (%16,2), fiziksel saldırı (%13,8) ve trafik kazası (%13,8) idi. Hastaneye yatırılan hastalar daha küçük yaşta (7,5 vs. 12 yıl, p=0,014), daha yüksek ambulans kullanımı (%62,5 vs. %14,3, p<0,001) ve mortalite (%12,5 vs. %0, p<0,001) oranına sahipti. Bu grupta hemoglobin, trombosit ve ürik asit düzeyleri düşük, lökosit sayıları ise yüksekti (tümü p<0,05).
Sonuç: Mülteci çocuklar, özellikle küçük yaş grubu, ciddi travma ve komplikasyonlar açısından yüksek risk altındadır. Bulgular, bu kırılgan gruba yönelik yaşa özel koruyucu stratejilere duyulan ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır.

References

  • Gormeli Kurt N, Unutmaz M, Bayazıt Keskin R, Gök A, Elmas Akgün F, Genc M, et al. Forensic and health challenges of refugees in turkish emergency departments: a retrospective analysis. Med Sci Monit. 2025;31:e947454.
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UN Refugee Agency (UNRA). Global Trends. Forced Displacement in 2023. Available from: https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/global-trends-report-2023.pdf.
  • Erat Nergiz M, Yalçın SS, Yalçın S. Unraveling infant feeding practices among syrian refugees in türkiye: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients. 2025;17(4):684.
  • Uwishema O, Kwan Su Huey A, Sengar AS, Patel RP, Kazan Z, Choudhary K. Addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants in Türkiye: a literature review. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(2):e70442.
  • Kunuroglu F, Yuzbasi DV, Kaval S, Kucukyilmaz E. Comparative evaluation of health status of Syrian refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish children, alongside the factors influencing sociocultural adaptation of Syrian children in Türkiye. Child Care Health Dev. 2025;51(1):e70042.
  • Tuz C, Abdulkader BN, Gültekin İ, Selçuk KN, Alper Z. Perspectives of Turkish family physicians towards refugee patients and primary health care: a qualitative study. Heliyon. 2024;10(22):e40377.
  • Doğan Ö, Karadağ A, Beşer A. The health needs of sSyrian refugees in context of social determinants of health: the case of Turkey. Florence Nightingale J Nurs. 2024;32(1):36-42.
  • Belibağlı MC, Gökmen MY, Pamiry A. Differences in the rates of admission and major orthopedic surgery care between Turkish and displaced children injured in a major earthquake. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2024;32(1):111.
  • Esin K, Işık T, Ayyıldız F, Koc M, Vatanparast H. Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Syrian refugees in Türkiye. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1748.
  • Rawers C, Redican E, Alpay EH, McElroy E, Shevlin M. Multiple trauma exposure and psychopathology in Syrian refugees living in Turkey: a latent class analysis. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024;245:104220.
  • Barış M, Sert G, Önder O. Ethical challenges in accessing and providing healthcare for Syrian refugees in Türkiye. Bioethics. 2025;39(1):49-57.
  • Tătăranu E, Ion L, Nemțoi A, Filip F, Axinte S, Axinte R, et al. Emergency Care for refugee patients at suceava hospital, Romania: challenges and insights from the first year of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(2):138.
  • Sahin E, Dagli TE, Acarturk C, Sahin Dagli F. Vulnerabilities of Syrian refugee children in Turkey and actions taken for prevention and management in terms of health and wellbeing. Child Abuse Negl. 2021;119(Pt 1):104628.
  • Çetin S, Gedikbaş M, Gedikbaş Ş S. Evaluation of foreign national cases applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Hospital Forensic Medicine Department, 2014-2022. Int J Legal Med. 2024;138(5):2015-20.
  • Borgschulte HS, Wiesmüller GA, Bunte A, Neuhann F. Health care provision for refugees in Germany - one-year evaluation of an outpatient clinic in an urban emergency accommodation. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):488.
  • Saunders NR, Guan J, Macpherson A, Lu H, Guttmann A. Association of Immigrant and Refugee Status With Risk Factors for Exposure to Violent Assault Among Youths and Young Adults in Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e200375.
  • Nijman RG, Krone J, Mintegi S, Bidlingmaier C, Maconochie IK, Lyttle MD, et al. Emergency care provided to refugee children in Europe: RefuNET: a cross-sectional survey study. Emerg Med J. 2021;38(1):5-13.
  • Bildik B, Aker M. Demographic and clinical characteristics of migrant patients visiting the emergency department. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39746.
  • Sahin A, Agar A, Hancerli CO, Kilic B, Gulabi D, Erturk C. Epidemiologic study of Syrian refugees underwent surgery due to fracture in a tertiary reference hospital in Turkey. Cureus. 2021;13(2):e13323.
  • Tuşat M, Özmen İ, Demirtaş MS, Ateş C, Öztürk AB, Kankılıç NA, et al. Risk factors for mortality and morbidity in Syrian refugee children with penetrating abdominal firearm injuries: an 1-year experience. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2023;29(9): 1051-60.
  • Şengüldür E, Demir MC, Selki K. Prevalence and clinical significance of hypouricemia in the emergency department. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(52):e41105.
  • Şengüldür E, Demir MC. Evaluation of the association of serum uric acid levels and stroke in emergency department patients. Duzce Medical Journal. 2024;26(2):112-7.

I'm a Little Refugee in ED: Trauma Exposure and Outcomes in Refugee Children

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 428 - 433, 24.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.33631/sabd.1691977

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the trauma mechanisms, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of refugee children presenting to the emergency department (ED) due to physical injuries.
Material and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the ED Duzce University school of Medicine Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024. Pediatric patients under the age of 18, identified as refugees or temporary asylum seekers and admitted due to physical trauma, were included. Data regarding demographics, trauma mechanisms, clinical and laboratory findings, and outcomes were analyzed. Psychological trauma cases were excluded. Children who are also foreign nationals but who entered the country for reasons other than asylum, such as work, travel, or education, are excluded.
Results: A total of 167 patients were included. The median age was 11 years (IQR: 4–14), and 37.1% were female. The most frequent trauma mechanisms were falls (45.5%), play-related accidents (16.2%), physical assault (13.8%), and traffic accidents (13.8%). Hospitalized patients were younger (7.5 vs. 12 years, p=0.014), had higher ambulance usage (62.5% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and higher mortality (12.5% vs. 0%, p<0.001). Lower hemoglobin, platelet, and uric acid levels, and higher leukocyte counts were observed in hospitalized patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Refugee children, particularly younger age groups, are at increased risk for severe trauma and related complications. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted injury prevention strategies and age-specific protection measures in refugee communities.

References

  • Gormeli Kurt N, Unutmaz M, Bayazıt Keskin R, Gök A, Elmas Akgün F, Genc M, et al. Forensic and health challenges of refugees in turkish emergency departments: a retrospective analysis. Med Sci Monit. 2025;31:e947454.
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UN Refugee Agency (UNRA). Global Trends. Forced Displacement in 2023. Available from: https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/global-trends-report-2023.pdf.
  • Erat Nergiz M, Yalçın SS, Yalçın S. Unraveling infant feeding practices among syrian refugees in türkiye: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients. 2025;17(4):684.
  • Uwishema O, Kwan Su Huey A, Sengar AS, Patel RP, Kazan Z, Choudhary K. Addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants in Türkiye: a literature review. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(2):e70442.
  • Kunuroglu F, Yuzbasi DV, Kaval S, Kucukyilmaz E. Comparative evaluation of health status of Syrian refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish children, alongside the factors influencing sociocultural adaptation of Syrian children in Türkiye. Child Care Health Dev. 2025;51(1):e70042.
  • Tuz C, Abdulkader BN, Gültekin İ, Selçuk KN, Alper Z. Perspectives of Turkish family physicians towards refugee patients and primary health care: a qualitative study. Heliyon. 2024;10(22):e40377.
  • Doğan Ö, Karadağ A, Beşer A. The health needs of sSyrian refugees in context of social determinants of health: the case of Turkey. Florence Nightingale J Nurs. 2024;32(1):36-42.
  • Belibağlı MC, Gökmen MY, Pamiry A. Differences in the rates of admission and major orthopedic surgery care between Turkish and displaced children injured in a major earthquake. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2024;32(1):111.
  • Esin K, Işık T, Ayyıldız F, Koc M, Vatanparast H. Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Syrian refugees in Türkiye. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1748.
  • Rawers C, Redican E, Alpay EH, McElroy E, Shevlin M. Multiple trauma exposure and psychopathology in Syrian refugees living in Turkey: a latent class analysis. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024;245:104220.
  • Barış M, Sert G, Önder O. Ethical challenges in accessing and providing healthcare for Syrian refugees in Türkiye. Bioethics. 2025;39(1):49-57.
  • Tătăranu E, Ion L, Nemțoi A, Filip F, Axinte S, Axinte R, et al. Emergency Care for refugee patients at suceava hospital, Romania: challenges and insights from the first year of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(2):138.
  • Sahin E, Dagli TE, Acarturk C, Sahin Dagli F. Vulnerabilities of Syrian refugee children in Turkey and actions taken for prevention and management in terms of health and wellbeing. Child Abuse Negl. 2021;119(Pt 1):104628.
  • Çetin S, Gedikbaş M, Gedikbaş Ş S. Evaluation of foreign national cases applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Hospital Forensic Medicine Department, 2014-2022. Int J Legal Med. 2024;138(5):2015-20.
  • Borgschulte HS, Wiesmüller GA, Bunte A, Neuhann F. Health care provision for refugees in Germany - one-year evaluation of an outpatient clinic in an urban emergency accommodation. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):488.
  • Saunders NR, Guan J, Macpherson A, Lu H, Guttmann A. Association of Immigrant and Refugee Status With Risk Factors for Exposure to Violent Assault Among Youths and Young Adults in Canada. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e200375.
  • Nijman RG, Krone J, Mintegi S, Bidlingmaier C, Maconochie IK, Lyttle MD, et al. Emergency care provided to refugee children in Europe: RefuNET: a cross-sectional survey study. Emerg Med J. 2021;38(1):5-13.
  • Bildik B, Aker M. Demographic and clinical characteristics of migrant patients visiting the emergency department. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39746.
  • Sahin A, Agar A, Hancerli CO, Kilic B, Gulabi D, Erturk C. Epidemiologic study of Syrian refugees underwent surgery due to fracture in a tertiary reference hospital in Turkey. Cureus. 2021;13(2):e13323.
  • Tuşat M, Özmen İ, Demirtaş MS, Ateş C, Öztürk AB, Kankılıç NA, et al. Risk factors for mortality and morbidity in Syrian refugee children with penetrating abdominal firearm injuries: an 1-year experience. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2023;29(9): 1051-60.
  • Şengüldür E, Demir MC, Selki K. Prevalence and clinical significance of hypouricemia in the emergency department. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(52):e41105.
  • Şengüldür E, Demir MC. Evaluation of the association of serum uric acid levels and stroke in emergency department patients. Duzce Medical Journal. 2024;26(2):112-7.
There are 22 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Mehmet Cihat Demir 0000-0002-0106-3383

Erdinç Şengüldür 0000-0002-3978-9534

Publication Date September 24, 2025
Submission Date May 5, 2025
Acceptance Date August 20, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 3

Cite

Vancouver Demir MC, Şengüldür E. I’m a Little Refugee in ED: Trauma Exposure and Outcomes in Refugee Children. VHS. 2025;15(3):428-33.