An evaluation of neglect related conditions among syrian migrant and Turkish children living in Turkey based on the 2018 TDHS data

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate was to provide an estimate of the prevalence of neglect, a subtype of child maltreatment, and to evaluate the types of child neglect and associated factors among Syrian migrant and Turkish children live in Turkey based on data which is obtained by using standardized methods employed in numerous countries. Thus, it is aimed to draw a picture about the situation of child neglect in our country, to contribute to the studies on neglect by making determinations that can be compared with other countries, to shed light on the determination of the situations related to child neglect in our country and therefore the measures to be taken, and to emphasize the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in terms of preventing child neglect. Materials and Methods: In our study, with the approval of Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies (HUIPS), we used data on 2032 Turkish and 1191 Syrian migrant children aged 0-5 years among women aged 15-49 years who were included in the survey conducted between October 2018 and February 2019 as part of the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and advanced statistical analysis was performed on independent and dependent variables, and Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test were applied to compare categorical variables. In addition, in order to examine the relationship between child neglect and independent variables, logistic regression analysis was performed with 3 models taking into account different characteristics. Results: Among children living in Turkey, Syrian migrant children were found to be exposed to neglect at a higher rate than Turkish children, regardless of the type. The frequency of exposure to neglect was 29.7% among Turkish children and 66.1% among Syrian migrant children. In both groups, the highest rate of neglect exposure was found to be educational neglect and the lowest rate of neglect exposure was found to be social support neglect. Sociodemographic characteristics affecting children's exposure to neglect were found to differ in both groups. In Turkish children, household characteristics were found to be a factor in exposure to neglect with all variables, while in Syrian immigrant children, only the effect of the number of siblings was found to be statistically significant. In terms of parental characteristics, the age of the mother between 19-35 years and the low level of parental education were found to be significant factors in both groups. A young father's age was found to be a significant factor for Syrian immigrant children, while the mother's not working was found to be a significant factor for Turkish children. In both groups, it was found that younger children were more likely to be exposed to neglect and the gender of the child did not have a significant effect on exposure to neglect. According to our findings, the variables that increased the exposure to neglect the most were found to be the level of wealth (8 times) in Turkish children and the level of mother's education (3 times) in Syrian immigrant children. The effects of variables such as living in crowded houses or rural areas and unplanned v pregnancy differed between groups. In our study, in line with the literature, early childhood development was also found to be lower in children with exposure to neglect. Discussion and Conclusion: Child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment worldwide and is a problem that threatens both individuals and societies. Childhood neglect causes many permanent physical, psychological and behavioral damages in children and may result in death as the most severe form. Individuals who have been exposed to neglect in childhood are prone to violence, illegal substance use, etc. It causes forensic consequences. In line with the literature, in our study, low welfare level, low education level of parents, crowded and nonstandard living conditions were found to be risk factors that increase child neglect Child neglect, which is reported to be a condition whose consequences can be prevented with early detection, is a multidimensional health problem that should be addressed with a multidisciplinary approach as well as social aspects. When the individual and social consequences of child neglect and the density of migrant population in our country and the prevalence of child neglect among migrant population are considered together, it is understood that the problem should be taken seriously. However, this field has not received the attention it deserves until recently, and child neglect has remained a "neglected field". Today, although child neglect is an issue that has been drawn attention by international organizations and governments, there is a big gap in this field that needs to be filled from a scientific point of view in our country as in the whole world. This study is significant for its use of nationally representative data from both Turkish and Syrian migrant samples and the utilization of standardized methods employed in nearly 100 countries, allowing for international comparisons.