Kırsal Bölgede Yaşayan Suriyeli Bebeklerin Beslenme Durumlarının ve Motor Gelişimlerinin İncelenmesi
Yıl 2026,
Cilt: 48 Sayı: 2, 326 - 336, 11.02.2026
Merve Bora Zereyak
,
Büşra Kepenek Varol
,
Selçuk Varol
Öz
Bu kesitsel çalışma, kırsal bölgede yaşayan Suriyeli bebeklerin beslenme durumunu ve motor gelişimini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Çalışmaya 0-12 ay arasında kırk bir Suriyeli bebek dahil edilmiştir. Bebeklerin beslenme durumları, bakım veren bildirimlerine dayanarak, yaş dönemlerine göre beslenme türlerinin (anne sütü, mama ve tamamlayıcı besinler) kaydedilmesi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Antropometrik ölçümler (kilo, boy, baş çevresi, kol çevresi) kaydedilmiştir. Motor gelişim Alberta İnfant Motor Skalası (AİMS) kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bebeklerin ortalama yaşı 5,83 ± 2,61 aydı. Bebeklerin %12–22’si boy, kilo veya baş çevresi açısından 3. persentilin altında yer alırken, %17’si kol çevresi açısından 5. persentilin altında bulunmuştur. Altı ay ve üzeri bebeklerin %52,4’ünün tamamlayıcı beslenmeye altı aydan önce başladığı belirlenmiştir. AİMS’e göre bebeklerin yalnızca %29,2’si normal motor gelişim göstermiştir. AİMS persentilleri ile antropometrik ölçümler ve erken tamamlayıcı beslenme arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamıştır (p>0,05). Bu bulgular, kırsal bölgede yaşayan Suriyeli bebeklerin büyüme ve motor gelişim açısından risk altında olabilecek hassas bir grubu temsil ettiğini düşündürmektedir. Ayrıca, bu çalışma sağlıklı beslenme ve gelişimi desteklemek amacıyla kapsamlı izleme programları ile aile merkezli beslenme eğitimlerinin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.
Etik Beyan
Bu çalışma Helsinki Bildirgesi ilkeleri doğrultusunda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma için Erciyes Üniversitesi Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'ndan 96681246 kayıt numarasıyla etik onay alınmıştır.
Bebeklerin tüm ebeveynleri çalışmaya katılmak için yazılı bilgilendirilmiş onam vermiştir.
Destekleyen Kurum
Yazarlar bu çalışma için finansal destek almadıklarını beyan etmişlerdir
Proje Numarası
Erciyes Üniversitesi, Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu, Kayıt numarası: 96681246
Teşekkür
Yazarlar, bebekleri adına izin verdikleri ve katılımları için ebeveynlere teşekkür eder.
Kaynakça
-
1. Schwarzenberg SJ, Georgieff MK, Nutrition Co, Daniels S, Corkins M, Golden NH, et al. Advocacy for improving nutrition in the first 1000 days to support childhood development and adult health. Pediatrics. 2018;141(2):e20173716.
-
2. Yalvaç S, Erkan T, Erginöz E, Çokuğraş F, Kutlu T. The evaluation of nutritional status of children by antropometric measurements, living in day nursery of Bahçelievler. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics. 2008;43(3):89-93.
-
3. El-Ghannam AR. The global problems of child malnutrition and mortality in different world regions. Journal of health & social policy. 2003;16(4):1-26.
-
4. Cavagnari BM, Guerrero-Vaca DJ, Carpio-Arias TV, Duran-Aguero S, Vinueza-Veloz AF, Robalino-Valdivieso MP, et al. The double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants: a cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(7):1181–1188.
-
5. Yılmazbaş P, Kural B, Uslu A, Sezer G, Gökçay G. Reasons of complementary feeding from the point of view of mothers and their opinions about formulas. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. 2015;78(3):76-82.
-
6. Green Corkins K. Nutrition‐focused physical examination in pediatric patients. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 2015;30(2):203-9.
-
7. Kepenek Varol B, Hoşbay Z, Varol S, Torun E. Assessment of motor development using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale in full-term infants. 2020.
-
8. Darrah J, Piper M, Watt MJ. Assessment of gross motor skills of at‐risk infants: predictive validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 1998;40(7):485-91.
-
9. Organization WH. Promoting proper feeding for infants and young children. Geneva: WHO. 2004.
-
10. DeYoung S, Suji M, Southall HG. Maternal perceptions of infant feeding and health in the context of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Journal of Human Lactation. 2018;34(2):242-52.
-
11. MirMohamadaliIe M, Jazani RK, Sohrabizadeh S, Nasrabadi AN. Barriers to breastfeeding in disasters in the context of Iran. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2019;34(1):20-4.
-
12. Avgen KBB, İncioğlu A, Çetinkaya F. The knowledge and practices of mothers from three different socioeconomic groups living in İstanbul on breastfeeding and supplementary foods. Journal of Child Health and Diseases. 2013;56(2):76-81.
-
13. Republic of Türkiye, Presidency of Migration Management. Distribution of Syrians under temporary protection by province 2025 [updated 2025-07-24. Available from: https://en.goc.gov.tr/temporary-protection27.
-
14. Gültaç A, Balçık PY. Health Policy For Syrian Asylum Seekers. Sakarya Medical Journal. 2018;8(2):193-204.
-
15. Yalçın SS, Erat Nergiz M, Yalçın S. Evaluation of breastfeeding and infant feeding attitudes among syrian refugees in Turkey: observations of Syrian healthcare workers. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2023;18(1):38.
-
16. Yalcin SS, Aydin Aksoy E, Yalcin S, Eryurt MA. Breastfeeding status and determinants of current breastfeeding of Syrian refugee children in Turkey. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2023;18(1):10.
-
17. Berger PK, Ong ML, Bode L, Belfort MB. Human milk oligosaccharides and infant neurodevelopment: a narrative review. Nutrients. 2023;15(3):719.
-
18. Zhang R, Ying E, Wu X, Qin H, Guo Y, Guo X, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infant. Frontiers in public health. 2024;12:1401250.
-
19. Neyzi O, Bundak R, Gökçay G, Günöz H, Furman A, Darendeliler F, Baş F. Reference Values for Weight, Height, Head Circumference, and Body Mass Index in Turkish Children. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2015 Dec;7(4):280-93.
-
20. Kırkıncıoğlu M, Fıçıcıoğlu C, Cam H, Aydın A, Bağrıaçık N. Percentile values of biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses and arm circumference in Turkish children aged 0–6 years. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics. 1995;1:21-6.
-
21. Saccani R, Valentini NC. Cross-cultural analysis of the motor development of Brazilian, Greek and Canadian infants assessed with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Revista Paulista de Pediatria. 2013;31(03):350-8.
-
22. Eliks M, Gajewska E. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale: A tool for the assessment of motor aspects of neurodevelopment in infancy and early childhood. Frontiers in neurology. 2022;13:927502.
-
23. World Health O. Global nutrition targets 2025: Breastfeeding policy brief. 2014.
-
24. Ozkaya M, Korukcu O, Aune I. Breastfeeding attitudes of refugee women from Syria and influencing factors: a study based on the transition theory. Perspectives in Public Health. 2022;142(1):46-55.
-
25. Organization WH. Global breastfeeding scorecard, 2018: Enabling women to breastfeed through better policies and programmes. World Health Organization; 2018.
-
26. Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies. Turkey Demographic and Health Survey 2018: Main Report. Ankara: Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies; 2019.
-
27. Van Der Merwe J, Kluyts M, Bowley N, Marais D. Optimizing the introduction of complementary foods in the infant's diet: a unique challenge in developing countries. Maternal & child nutrition. 2007;3(4):259-70.
-
28. Yılmaz G. Investigation of Nutrition Patterns of 0-24 Months Babies. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2019;8(4):343-52.
-
29. Köksal E, Yalçin SS, Pekcan G, Özbas S, Tezel B, Köse MR. Complementary feeding practices of children aged 12-23 months in Turkey. Central European journal of public health. 2015;23(2):149.
-
30. Manurung N, Bakara RA. The Relationship Of Early Supplementary Foods (Mp-Asi) On The Growth Of Infants 0-6 Months In The Jannah Clinic. Science Midwifery. 2019;7(2, April):77-82.
-
31. Faber M. Complementary foods consumed by 6–12-month-old rural infants in South Africa are inadequate in micronutrients. Public health nutrition. 2005;8(4):373-81.
-
32. Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L, Strupp B. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. The lancet. 2007;369(9555):60-70.
-
33. Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Mother and Child Health and Family Planning. (2005). Guideline for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency and the protection of bone health. Ankara: Ministry of Health of Turkey.
-
34. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. New England journal of medicine. 2007;357(3):266-81.
-
35. Organization WH. Guideline daily iron supplementation in infants and children: World Health Organization; 2016.
-
36. Değer VB, Çifçi S, Ertem M. The effect of socioeconomic factors on malnutrition in Syrian children aged 0–6 years living in Turkey: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):2472.
-
37. Bucak IH, Almis H, Benli S, Turgut M. An overview of the health status of Syrian refugee children in a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Avicenna journal of medicine. 2017;7(03):110-4.
-
38. Iannotti L, Jean Louis Dulience S, Wolff P, Cox K, Lesorogol C, Kohl P. Nutrition factors predict earlier acquisition of motor and language milestones among young children in Haiti. Acta Paediatrica. 2016;105(9):e406-e11.
-
39. Üzer S, Sahin S, Arslan MK, Oncel MY, Schroeder AS, Hadders-Algra M. Maternal refugee status is associated with less favourable motor performance and behaviour in term infants referred to a neonatal ward: a cross-sectional study. BMC pediatrics. 2025;25(1):297.
-
40. English LK, Obbagy JE, Wong YP, Butte NF, Dewey KG, Fox MK, et al. Complementary feeding and developmental milestones: a systematic review. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2019;109:879S-89S.
An Investigation of the Nutritional Status and Motor Development of Syrian Infants Living in a Rural District
Yıl 2026,
Cilt: 48 Sayı: 2, 326 - 336, 11.02.2026
Merve Bora Zereyak
,
Büşra Kepenek Varol
,
Selçuk Varol
Öz
This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the nutritional status and motor development of Syrian infants living in a rural district. The study included forty-one Syrian infants aged 0–12 months. The infants’ nutritional status was assessed based on caregiver reports, by recording the type of feeding across age periods (breast milk, formula, and complementary foods). Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, head circumference, arm circumference) were obtained. The motor development was assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). The mean age of the infants was 5.83 ± 2.61 months. Between 12% and 22% of infants were below the 3rd percentile for height, weight, or head circumference, while 17% were below the 5th percentile for arm circumference. Complementary feeding was initiated before six months of age in 52.4% of infants aged six months and older. According to AIMS, only 29.2% of infants demonstrated normal motor development. No statistically significant associations were found between AIMS percentiles and anthropometric measures or early complementary feeding (p> 0.05). These findings suggest that Syrian infants living in a rural district represent a vulnerable population at risk for impaired growth and motor development. This study also highlights the need for comprehensive monitoring programs and family-centered nutritional educations.
Etik Beyan
This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from Erciyes University, Clinical Researches Ethics Board with 96681246 registration number. All parents of the infants provided written informed consent to participate in the study
Destekleyen Kurum
The authors declared that this study received no financial support
Proje Numarası
Erciyes Üniversitesi, Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu, Kayıt numarası: 96681246
Teşekkür
The authors would like to thank the parents for their consent and participation on behalf of their infants
Kaynakça
-
1. Schwarzenberg SJ, Georgieff MK, Nutrition Co, Daniels S, Corkins M, Golden NH, et al. Advocacy for improving nutrition in the first 1000 days to support childhood development and adult health. Pediatrics. 2018;141(2):e20173716.
-
2. Yalvaç S, Erkan T, Erginöz E, Çokuğraş F, Kutlu T. The evaluation of nutritional status of children by antropometric measurements, living in day nursery of Bahçelievler. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics. 2008;43(3):89-93.
-
3. El-Ghannam AR. The global problems of child malnutrition and mortality in different world regions. Journal of health & social policy. 2003;16(4):1-26.
-
4. Cavagnari BM, Guerrero-Vaca DJ, Carpio-Arias TV, Duran-Aguero S, Vinueza-Veloz AF, Robalino-Valdivieso MP, et al. The double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants: a cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(7):1181–1188.
-
5. Yılmazbaş P, Kural B, Uslu A, Sezer G, Gökçay G. Reasons of complementary feeding from the point of view of mothers and their opinions about formulas. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. 2015;78(3):76-82.
-
6. Green Corkins K. Nutrition‐focused physical examination in pediatric patients. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 2015;30(2):203-9.
-
7. Kepenek Varol B, Hoşbay Z, Varol S, Torun E. Assessment of motor development using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale in full-term infants. 2020.
-
8. Darrah J, Piper M, Watt MJ. Assessment of gross motor skills of at‐risk infants: predictive validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 1998;40(7):485-91.
-
9. Organization WH. Promoting proper feeding for infants and young children. Geneva: WHO. 2004.
-
10. DeYoung S, Suji M, Southall HG. Maternal perceptions of infant feeding and health in the context of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Journal of Human Lactation. 2018;34(2):242-52.
-
11. MirMohamadaliIe M, Jazani RK, Sohrabizadeh S, Nasrabadi AN. Barriers to breastfeeding in disasters in the context of Iran. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2019;34(1):20-4.
-
12. Avgen KBB, İncioğlu A, Çetinkaya F. The knowledge and practices of mothers from three different socioeconomic groups living in İstanbul on breastfeeding and supplementary foods. Journal of Child Health and Diseases. 2013;56(2):76-81.
-
13. Republic of Türkiye, Presidency of Migration Management. Distribution of Syrians under temporary protection by province 2025 [updated 2025-07-24. Available from: https://en.goc.gov.tr/temporary-protection27.
-
14. Gültaç A, Balçık PY. Health Policy For Syrian Asylum Seekers. Sakarya Medical Journal. 2018;8(2):193-204.
-
15. Yalçın SS, Erat Nergiz M, Yalçın S. Evaluation of breastfeeding and infant feeding attitudes among syrian refugees in Turkey: observations of Syrian healthcare workers. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2023;18(1):38.
-
16. Yalcin SS, Aydin Aksoy E, Yalcin S, Eryurt MA. Breastfeeding status and determinants of current breastfeeding of Syrian refugee children in Turkey. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2023;18(1):10.
-
17. Berger PK, Ong ML, Bode L, Belfort MB. Human milk oligosaccharides and infant neurodevelopment: a narrative review. Nutrients. 2023;15(3):719.
-
18. Zhang R, Ying E, Wu X, Qin H, Guo Y, Guo X, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infant. Frontiers in public health. 2024;12:1401250.
-
19. Neyzi O, Bundak R, Gökçay G, Günöz H, Furman A, Darendeliler F, Baş F. Reference Values for Weight, Height, Head Circumference, and Body Mass Index in Turkish Children. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2015 Dec;7(4):280-93.
-
20. Kırkıncıoğlu M, Fıçıcıoğlu C, Cam H, Aydın A, Bağrıaçık N. Percentile values of biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses and arm circumference in Turkish children aged 0–6 years. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics. 1995;1:21-6.
-
21. Saccani R, Valentini NC. Cross-cultural analysis of the motor development of Brazilian, Greek and Canadian infants assessed with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Revista Paulista de Pediatria. 2013;31(03):350-8.
-
22. Eliks M, Gajewska E. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale: A tool for the assessment of motor aspects of neurodevelopment in infancy and early childhood. Frontiers in neurology. 2022;13:927502.
-
23. World Health O. Global nutrition targets 2025: Breastfeeding policy brief. 2014.
-
24. Ozkaya M, Korukcu O, Aune I. Breastfeeding attitudes of refugee women from Syria and influencing factors: a study based on the transition theory. Perspectives in Public Health. 2022;142(1):46-55.
-
25. Organization WH. Global breastfeeding scorecard, 2018: Enabling women to breastfeed through better policies and programmes. World Health Organization; 2018.
-
26. Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies. Turkey Demographic and Health Survey 2018: Main Report. Ankara: Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies; 2019.
-
27. Van Der Merwe J, Kluyts M, Bowley N, Marais D. Optimizing the introduction of complementary foods in the infant's diet: a unique challenge in developing countries. Maternal & child nutrition. 2007;3(4):259-70.
-
28. Yılmaz G. Investigation of Nutrition Patterns of 0-24 Months Babies. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2019;8(4):343-52.
-
29. Köksal E, Yalçin SS, Pekcan G, Özbas S, Tezel B, Köse MR. Complementary feeding practices of children aged 12-23 months in Turkey. Central European journal of public health. 2015;23(2):149.
-
30. Manurung N, Bakara RA. The Relationship Of Early Supplementary Foods (Mp-Asi) On The Growth Of Infants 0-6 Months In The Jannah Clinic. Science Midwifery. 2019;7(2, April):77-82.
-
31. Faber M. Complementary foods consumed by 6–12-month-old rural infants in South Africa are inadequate in micronutrients. Public health nutrition. 2005;8(4):373-81.
-
32. Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L, Strupp B. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. The lancet. 2007;369(9555):60-70.
-
33. Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Mother and Child Health and Family Planning. (2005). Guideline for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency and the protection of bone health. Ankara: Ministry of Health of Turkey.
-
34. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. New England journal of medicine. 2007;357(3):266-81.
-
35. Organization WH. Guideline daily iron supplementation in infants and children: World Health Organization; 2016.
-
36. Değer VB, Çifçi S, Ertem M. The effect of socioeconomic factors on malnutrition in Syrian children aged 0–6 years living in Turkey: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):2472.
-
37. Bucak IH, Almis H, Benli S, Turgut M. An overview of the health status of Syrian refugee children in a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Avicenna journal of medicine. 2017;7(03):110-4.
-
38. Iannotti L, Jean Louis Dulience S, Wolff P, Cox K, Lesorogol C, Kohl P. Nutrition factors predict earlier acquisition of motor and language milestones among young children in Haiti. Acta Paediatrica. 2016;105(9):e406-e11.
-
39. Üzer S, Sahin S, Arslan MK, Oncel MY, Schroeder AS, Hadders-Algra M. Maternal refugee status is associated with less favourable motor performance and behaviour in term infants referred to a neonatal ward: a cross-sectional study. BMC pediatrics. 2025;25(1):297.
-
40. English LK, Obbagy JE, Wong YP, Butte NF, Dewey KG, Fox MK, et al. Complementary feeding and developmental milestones: a systematic review. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2019;109:879S-89S.