A systematic review of malnutrition among Syrian refugee children in turkey and neighboring countries

Abstract Purpose The Syrian civil war has created a profound refugee crisis, with millions, especially children, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. These children face a high risk of malnutrition, a critical public health issue. This study aims to systematically review and synthesize the existing literature on the prevalence and types of malnutrition among Syrian refugee children in Turkey and neighboring countries. Methods This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, TR Dizin, and the YÖK National Thesis Center databases was performed for studies published between January 2011 and August 15, 2024. Search terms included “Syrian refugee,” “child,” “malnutrition,” “stunting,” “wasting,” and “anemia.” Included studies underwent a methodological quality assessment using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. Results Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal that chronic malnutrition (stunting) and anemia are more prevalent among Syrian refugee children than acute malnutrition (wasting). Stunting prevalence in studies from Turkey ranged from 14.7% to 31.7%. Anemia was also a significant concern, with reported rates as high as 48.4%. The quality assessment showed variable quality, with most studies carrying a risk of bias in the “Comparability” domain. Malnutrition rates were generally higher among children living outside of camps. Conclusion While acute malnutrition appears to be largely controlled, chronic nutritional problems such as stunting and anemia persist as significant public health challenges for Syrian refugee children. These findings underscore the urgent need for long-term, sustainable public health interventions that focus on maternal and child health services, continuous nutritional surveillance, and targeted support programs for this vulnerable population.