Journal Article

Age and gender differences in leading reasons for referral to forensic medicine clinic among syrian refugees: A one-year cross-sectional study

Akbaba, Murat, Çot, Ferit, ISIR, Aysun Baransel, Ayabakan Çot, Duygu

2025

Overview

Syrian people are the largest refugee population globally and are mainly hosted by the Turkish government. Due to the conflict-driven displacement and their insecure immigration status, many have limited access to basic human needs and develop further mental health issues due to forced displacement. The study aims to identify reasons for forensic evaluation in specific age groups and gender among Syrian refugees. For this descriptive study, the demographic and case information of 781 Syrian refugees, consisting of 74.6 % males and 25.4 % females who are referred to the Forensic Medicine Clinics due to five main reasons: psychoactive drug testing, age estimation, DNA analysis, injury assessment, and forensic-psychiatric evaluation were included. The patient information is collected from the patient files. The nominal data were categorized by gender and under 4 different age groups: pediatric (age 0–14), adolescent (age 15–24), young adult (age 25–34), and adult (age 35 and older). Drug tests were the most prevalent reason in males older than 14 years old (79.7 %), and age estimation, due to early marriages for the female refugees (53.3 %). DNA testing was the primary reason for female adults. The majority of the refugees’ injuries were untreatable with simple medical treatment (SMT) (89.2 % males, 58.8 % females). Pediatric injury assessments demonstrated head injuries (33.3 %), not treatable with SMT (100 %), and 33.3 % of those cases were life-threatening. Identifying vulnerable individuals among the Syrian refugee population based on demographics, gender, and age will further promote more effective approaches to improve the interventions. •There are gender-based differences in the reason for referrals of Syrian refugees.•The major reason for the referral of male refugees is psychoactive drug tests.•53.3 % of female refugees underwent age estimation due to early marriage suspicion.•Adult female refugees are mainly referred to examine family bonds via DNA tests.

• Publisher: Elsevier B.V,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescents / Adult / Age / Age determination / Age Distribution / Child / Child, Preschool / Chronology / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographics / Demography / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / DNA Fingerprinting / Drug test / Drug testing / Female / Females / Forensic evaluation / Forensic Medicine / Forensic science / Gender / Gender aspects / Head injuries / Humans / Infant / Infant, Newborn / Injuries / Injury analysis / Male / Males / Medical treatment / Mental disorders / Patients / Pediatrics / Psychotropic drugs / Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data / Refugees / Refugees - statistics & numerical data / Sex differences / Sex Distribution / Syria - ethnology / Syrian refugees / Teenagers / Turkey / Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology / Young Adult / Young adults