Prevalence of physical symptoms persisting in children a year after the Türkiye earthquake.

Abstract

Objective: While the impact of earthquakes on children's mental health is frequently discussed in the literature, the extent of physical health problems remains unclear. This study was conducted to identify the short-term and long-term physical health problems experienced by children exposed to earthquakes.

Design: A descriptive and retrospective design was used.

Methods: The study included a total of 1073 children aged 6-16 living in temporary shelters (tents and containers). Data were collected 1 year after the earthquakes. The children's physical health was assessed using a Physical Examination and Care Form specifically developed for this study. Data were collected through self-reports from children and parents as well as observations and assessments by researchers.

Results: Following the earthquake, children experienced respiratory problems (20.3%), respiratory tract infections (10.6%) and sputum production (24.8%). Digestive problems included nausea and vomiting (16.5%), loss of appetite (15.3%) and diarrhoea (10.2%). In terms of sleep, 29.3% of children had difficulty falling asleep, 24.9% experienced shorter sleep durations, 18.3% woke up frequently and 11.4% had nightmares. Furthermore, urinary incontinence was reported in 8.7% of cases, faecal incontinence in 4.4%, musculoskeletal pain in 13.4%, limited mobility in 7.5%, joint problems in 6.2% and coordination disorders in 4.8%.

Conclusion: Many of the children who lived through the Türkiye earthquake experienced physical health problems both immediately after earthquakes and 1 year later. A holistic assessment and long-term monitoring of the health impacts of such disasters on children are crucial for identifying their physical care needs and mitigating these health issues.