The Epidemiology of Stunted Growth in Refugee Patients with Chronic Burn Injuries

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Public Health
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Chronic burn injuries pose significant health risks to children.
• Syrian refugee children face unique challenges, including potential developmental impacts.
• Stunted growth is a critical indicator of long-term health and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of stunted growth in Syrian refugee children with chronic burn injuries.
• To compare stunting rates between children with and without burn injuries within a similar socioeconomic context.
• To identify factors associated with stunting in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective medical chart review of 142 Syrian refugee children (≤18 years) with chronic burn injuries (2014-2020).
• Utilized height-for-age z-score to measure stunted growth.
• Compared outcomes with a control group of children (±burn) of similar socioeconomic status.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of stunting was 9.2% in the studied Syrian refugee children.
• The mean height-for-age z-score was -0.491 (SD = 1.1).
• Stunting was more prevalent in children who sustained burn injuries at a younger age; no significant sex differences were observed.

Conclusions:

• Early and effective management of burn injuries is essential to mitigate the risk of stunting in young children.
• Targeted interventions and research are needed to address stunting in pediatric refugee populations.
• Addressing stunting is vital to prevent long-term health and economic consequences for refugee children.