Prevalence and causes of malnutrition in seasonal agricultural workers' children under the age of five

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 50 Sayı: 3, 673 - 682, 30.09.2025

Didem Yüzügüllü , Ferdi Tanır

https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.1637711

Öz

Purpose: Children under the age of five are vulnerable to malnutrition, and those living in tents with seasonal agricultural workers are at an even greater risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and its associated factors in children of seasonal agricultural workers under the age of five.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on seasonal agricultural land in Adana, Turkey. Data were collected through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Three logistic regression models (stunting, underweight and wasting) were adopted to identify nutritional risk factors.
Results: The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among the study participants was 40.4%, 51.7% and 23.2%, respectively. Female gender, a history of diarrhoea, breastfeeding for less than six months and incomplete vaccination were found to be associated with an increased risk of stunting. A history of diarrhoea, lack of antenatal care, breastfeeding for less than six months and incomplete vaccination were found to be associated with being underweight. A history of diarrhoea and lack of antenatal care were associated with wasting.
Conclusion: Based on these results, national healthcare services should promote improvements to the living and working conditions of agricultural workers with children under the age of five. Access to health services is important during the 0–5 age group, as growth and development must be closely monitored during this period. In addition to raising public awareness of this issue, health authorities must monitor the population at risk.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Children , healthcare services , malnutrition , seasonal agricultural workers.

Mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin beş yaş altı çocuklarında yetersiz beslenmenin yaygınlık ve nedenleri

Öz

Amaç: Beş yaş altı çocuklar yetersiz beslenmeye karşı savunmasız bir gruptur ve çadırlarda yaşayan mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin çocukları yetersiz beslenme açısından daha risklidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, beş yaş altı mevsimlik tarım işçilerinin çocuklarında kronik yetersiz beslenmenin yaygınlığını ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlemektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma Adana-Türkiye'deki mevsimlik tarım arazilerinde gerçekleştirildi. Veriler anket ve antropometrik ölçümler yoluyla toplandı. Beslenmeyi etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek için üç farklı lojistik regresyon modeli (bodur, düşük kilolu, zayıf) benimsendi.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılanlarda bodurluk, düşük kiloluluk ve zayıflık prevalansı sırasıyla %40,4, %51,7 ve %23,2 idi. Kız cinsiyet, ishal öyküsü, altı aydan az emzirme, eksik aşılama bodurluk riskinin artmasıyla ilişkili bulundu. İshal öyküsü, doğum öncesi bakım eksikliği, altı aydan az emzirme, eksik aşılama düşük kiloyla ilişkili bulundu. İshal öyküsü, doğum öncesi bakım eksikliği zayıflıkla ilişkili bulundu.
Sonuç: Bu sonuçlara göre, ulusal sağlık hizmetleri beş yaş altı çocuklarıyla birlikte yaşayan tarım işçilerinin yaşam ve çalışma koşullarında iyileştirmeleri teşvik etmelidir. Büyüme ve gelişimin yakından izlenmesi gereken bir dönem olan 0-5 yaşları arasında sağlık hizmetlerine erişim önemlidir. Bu konuda kamuoyunun farkındalığına ek olarak, risk popülasyonu sağlık otoriteleri tarafından izlenmelidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Çocuklar , sağlık hizmetleri , malnutrisyon , mevsimlik tarım işçileri.

Kaynakça

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