Children health status of migratory and sesonal farmworkers in Sanliurfa

The ecological context of migratory seasonal workers’ children’s life is characterized by poverty, social isolation, heightened mobility, inadequate occupational safety and health access barriers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalance of intestinal paracites, growth and development status and anemia in this disadvantaged group. In this cross sectional survey, 168 children aged between 6-59 were reached in the catchment area of the Ertugrulgazi Primary Health Care Center in the Sanliurfa district of South-eastern Anatolia of Turkey. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, anthropometry, Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory and laboratory analysis of fecal samples and finger-prick blood samples were used to measure blood hematocrite with a hematocrite centrifuje. The mean age was 31.6 ±16.8 months, and 50% were males of children. 55.4% children were infected by intestinal parasites. The most common infections involved the protozoan parasite G. Intestinalis (37.2% ). 17.8 % of children had general psychomotor development delay, and 38.1% were stunted. Of these children 16.9 % were anemic. Based on these findings,  primary health care professionals should give any longer health care and makes more visit to these family when they stay in their permanent address. The effective delivery of mobil environmental and individual primary health care services to these children requires awareness of and attention to their unique health access barriers and to their unique health. Key words: Children, Migratory and  Seasonal Farmworkers, Intestinal Parasite, Growth,  Devolopment, Anemia