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Journals / Osmangazi Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 48 Sayı: 2

An Investigation of the Nutritional Status and Motor Development of Syrian Infants Living in a Rural District

Kırsal Bölgede Yaşayan Suriyeli Bebeklerin Beslenme Durumlarının ve Motor Gelişimlerinin İncelenmesi

Merve Bora Zereyak(Nuh Naci Yazgan University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation)0000-0002-0196-4691
Büşra Kepenek Varol(Nuh Naci Yazgan University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation)0000-0001-5488-5316
Selçuk Varol(Department of Child Health and Diseases, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey)0000-0002-0125-5270
Pages
326–336
Publication Date
2026-02-11
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This study also highlights the need for comprehensive monitoring programs and family-centered nutritional educations.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the nutritional status and motor development of Syrian infants living in a rural district.
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Key Findings & Data:The study included forty-one Syrian infants aged 0–12 months.
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Conclusion & Impact:This study also highlights the need for comprehensive monitoring programs and family-centered nutritional educations.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Beslenme · büyüme · bebek

Abstract

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.

Özet

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.

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Cite This Article

Zereyak, M. B., Varol, B. K., Varol, S., *, M. B. Z. (2026). An Investigation of the Nutritional Status and Motor Development of Syrian Infants Living in a Rural District. Osmangazi Tıp Dergisi, Cilt: 48 Sayı: 2, 326–336. https://doi.org/10.20515/otd.1820629

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