Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Syrian Refugee Women in the Lactation Period

Abstract

Background: The Syrian civil war has caused large-scale displacement, with many Syrian refugee women migrating to T & uuml;rkiye. Lactation is a critical period requiring adequate nutrition for maternal and infant health. However, data on the nutritional status of lactating Syrian refugee women are limited. Aim: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of lactating Syrian refugee women who migrated to T & uuml;rkiye due to the Syrian civil war. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 5, 2017, and January 29, 2018, with 102 lactating Syrian refugee women with infants aged 0-6 months attending the Istanbul Al Farah Child and Family Support Center. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria were being a Syrian refugee woman in the lactation period, having an infant aged 0-6 months, and volunteering to participate in the study. Women with chronic illnesses or metabolic disorders were excluded. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the assistance of a translator, using a structured Turkish questionnaire covering demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and 3-day dietary records. Dietary intake was analyzed with the BEBIS9 program and compared to the T & uuml;rkiye Nutrition Guide recommendations. Although the dietary data were collected in 2017-2018, the analysis was conducted using the most up-to-date national guidelines to reflect current public health priorities. Results: Participants (n = 102) had an average age of 27.9 +/- 5.7 years, BMI of 27.3 +/- 4.6 kg/m(2), and monthly income of 1267 TL. Their daily energy intake was 1593.7 +/- 556.5 kcal/day. A large proportion of participants had inadequate intake of micronutrients, with the highest insufficiency observed for pyridoxine (88.2%), followed by vitamin A (81.4%), vitamin C (76.5%), thiamine (71.5%), riboflavin (63.7%), folic acid (81.4%), vitamin B12 (72.6%), iron (62.8%), and zinc (68.6%). Women with higher BMI in early lactation consumed more fat (p < 0.05). Significant associations were found between micronutrient intake and sociodemographic factors (p < 0.05). However, due to the small sample size and use of convenience sampling, the generalizability of the findings is limited. Future studies with larger and more representative samples are needed to confirm these results. Conclusion: Syrian refugee women in the lactation period showed inadequate intake of energy and essential micronutrients, likely due to poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Interventions such as culturally sensitive nutrition education, postpartum micronutrient supplementation, and improved access to migrant-friendly healthcare services are needed. Additionally, targeted policies and sustainable public health nutrition programs-such as food voucher schemes, fortified food distribution, and maternal support groups-should be developed in collaboration with health institutions and NGOs to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in this vulnerable population.