Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the extent of acknowledgement of speciality of pediatric surgery among public and general practicioners in Southeast region of Turkey.

Material and Method: 653 patients and their parents who were admitted to Mardin maternitiy and children hospital were interwieved between January 1st. and September 30rd. 2009. Presenting complaints of the patients, their regions of referrals (city center, town, village), the education level of the parents and their referral centers were analized.

Result: Among 476 (72.9 %) boys and 177 (27.1 %) girls with a mean age 39.5 months (1 month-16 years) who were admitted in the hospital, 176 (27.0 %) patients had urological, and 447 general surgical problems. Majority of the patients came from a small town and 327 (50 %) mothers were illiterate, while 341 (52.2 %) fathers were primary school graduates. Majority of the patients were directed to the pediatric surgery by the pediatricians or they consulted to pediatricians, themselves. The urological problems were statistically higher among the patients who consulted to pediatricians by themselves rather than attending physicians.

Conclusıon: Whereas the public and practising doctors do not have enough knowledge about the pediatric surgeon’s dealings; the ratio of the urological problems are higher among the patients who referred to pediatric surgens by themselves rather than attending physicians.