How Has The COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Child Health Tracks?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify patients who missed healthy-child follow-ups due to COVID-19.

Materials and Methods: The files of the patients who applied to the healthy-child outpatient clinic of our hospital from March 14, 2020, when the curfews began in Turkey, until March 31, 2021, were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: During this period, 5036 patients applied for healthy-child follow-ups. It was found that 1.44% (n=73) of these patients missed some of their follow-ups. Of these patients, 35.6% were citizens of the Republic of Turkey, 32.9% were Syrian, and 31.5% were Iraqi refugees. 78.1% of the patients were not taking iron prophylaxis. Hip ultrasonography was not performed in 72.6% of the patients. It was found that 80.8% of the patients were missing vaccination and other follow-ups, while 31.5% were only missing vaccination while other follow-ups were complete. It was determined that 38.3% of the patients did not have more than one vaccination, and 12.3% did not have any vaccination since birth due to vaccine rejection. There was no difference between Turkish citizens and Syrian or Iraqi citizens in terms of missing follow-ups (p=0.213). In terms of missing vaccinations, it was determined that Syrian and Iraqi refugees missed more vaccinations (p=0.000).

Conclusion: In order to raise healthy children for future generations, it is thought that public should be informed about the importance of follow-ups, and patients should be guided without delay in every case of missing follow-ups.

Keywords

• heathy child follow up
• vaccine
• COVID 19

COVİD-19 Pandemisi Çocuk Sağlığı İzlemlerini Nasıl Etkiledi?

Abstract

Objective: It is aimed to detect the disruptions experienced in Healthy Child Follow-ups in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Material and Methods: The files of the patients who applied to the Healthy-Child Outpatient Clinic of our hospital from March 14, 2020, when the curfews began in Turkey, until March 31, 2021, were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: During this period, 5036 patients applied for healthy-child follow-ups. It was found that 1.44% (n=73) of these patients missed some of their follow-ups. Of these patients, 35.6% were citizens of the Republic of Turkey, 32.9% were Syrian, and 31.5% were Iraqi refugees. 78.1% of the patients were not taking iron prophylaxis. Hip ultrasonography was not performed in 72.6% of the patients. It was found that 80.8% of the patients were missing vaccination and other follow-ups, while 31.5% were only missing vaccination while other follow-ups were complete. It was determined that 38.3% of the patients did not have more than one vaccination, and 12.3% did not have any vaccination since birth due to vaccine rejection. There was no difference between Turkish citizens and Syrian or Iraqi citizens in terms of missing follow-ups (p=0.213). In terms of missing vaccinations, it was determined that Syrian and Iraqi refugees missed more vaccinations (p<0.001).

Conclusion: In order to raise healthy children, it is thought that public should be informed about the importance of follow-ups, and patients should be guided without delay in every case of missing follow-ups.

Keywords

• COVİD 19
• Sağlıklı Çocuk
• Takip
• aşı

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