To investigate the changes in the provision of preventive health services interms of woman and child health after reorganization of the primary healthcare services.

The primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamental changes as a partof Health Transformation Program during last decade. But there was nocommunity-based study to evaluate these changes.

This community-based and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010, justbefore the reorganization of primary care services and in 2015, five yearafter the reforms. The 30×7 cluster sampling method was used inZümrütevler quarter of Maltepe District. The socio-demographiccharacteristics of the participants, the presence of the physician who canbe consulted for any health problem, the presence of smokers at home werequestioned. The women aged 18 years or older and gave consent providedinformation about history of pregnancy and birth, the number of follow-upsduring pregnancy, family planning method usage, cervical and breast cancerscreening, breastfeeding duration, vaccinations, and prophylactic iron andvitamin D supplementation for their children.

After the reorganization of primary care, more people stated that they hadphysicians to whom they could consult for all kinds of health problems (27.8versus 44.7%; P<0.001) and that physician wasthe primary care physician (30.2 versus 64.7%;P<0.001). The reported frequency of at least onesmoker at home was decreased after reorganization of primary care (63.6versus 53.1%; P=0.034). There were nosignificant differences in terms unplanned pregnancy, the use of familyplanning method, the number of pregnancy follow-ups and the frequency of Papsmears and mammography. There are no significant differences in terms ofhealthy children follow-ups, vaccination, vitamin D and iron supplementation(P>0.05). It was found that the duration oftotal breastfeeding increased after reorganization of primary care(P<0.001).

Many Syrians have left their country and migrated to other countries since March 2011, due to the civil war. As of March 2016, a total of 2,747,946 Syrian refugees had immigrated to Turkey. Some Syrian refugees have been living in camps, while 2,475,134 have been living in metropolitan areas, such as Ankara.

This study investigated Emergency Medical Service (EMS) utilization among Syrian refugees residing in Ankara.

This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional database analysis using data obtained from the Department of EMS of the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate.

Five stations in the Altındağ region of Ankara responded to 42% of all calls from Syrian refugees. Prehospital EMS in Ankara have been used mostly by Syrian refugees younger than 18-years-old. Study findings also suggest that medical staff in regions where Syrian refugees are likely to be treated should be supported and provided with the ability to overcome language barriers and cultural differences.

AltınerAO , Tekeli YeşilS . Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Utilization by Syrian Refugees Residing in Ankara, Turkey. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(2):160–164.