Nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy in Ghana

Limited knowledge on nutritional epidemiology in Ghanaian children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) necessitates a comprehensive investigation for an improved understanding of malnutrition in this population.

We aimed to describe the epidemiology of malnutrition among children with CP in Ghana.

The study used data collected as part of the Ghana CP Register (GCPR). The GCPR is an institution-based surveillance of children with CP aged < 18 years in Ghana. Between October 2018 and April 2020, N = 455 children with CP were registered. Data were collected on (i) weight, length or height, mid-upper-arm-circumference of children with CP; (ii) socio-demographic characteristics; (iii) motor type and topography, gross motor function classification system level (GMFCS); (iv) associated impairments; (v) educational and rehabilitation status for each child. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed.

Mean and standard deviation age of the registered children at assessment was 5.9 ± 4.1 years, and 42.1% were female. Two-thirds of the children had ≥ one form of undernutrition (underweight or severely underweight: 38.9%, stunted or severely stunted: 51.2%, thin or severely thin: 23.8%). In the adjusted analysis, low maternal education, GMFCS-IV, speech impairment and epilepsy significantly increased the odds of undernutrition among participating children (aOR: 2.6 [95% CI:1.3-5.4]; 2.2 [95% CI:1.0-4.8]; 2.0 [95% CI:1.1-3.6]; 2.9 [95% CI:1.1-7.5] respectively).

The high malnutrition rate indicates an urgent need for nutrition interventions and translational research to improve nutritional status and prevent adverse outcomes among children with CP in Ghana.

Our study contributes important data and a framework to develop guidelines and evidence-based interventions for children with CP in Ghana.