Factors associated with cerebral palsy among children in Hawassa University comprehensive specialized hospital:
Bethelhem Bashe1, Desalegn Dawit Assele2, Worku Ketema1
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Insights
Maternal infection, low birth weight, prolonged labor, perinatal asphyxia, and infant CNS infections are key risk factors for childhood cerebral palsy. Awareness and improved obstetric and newborn care are crucial for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent childhood physical disability affecting motor, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral functions.
- Global incidence ranges from 1-4 per 1,000 children, significantly impacting quality of life and healthcare costs.
- Limited data exists on CP risk factors in Ethiopia, necessitating local investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors associated with cerebral palsy (CP) in children.
- To identify specific risk factors within the Ethiopian context.
Main Methods:
- An institution-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2023.
- Data were extracted from 80 cases and 160 control charts at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
- Binary logistic regression analysis identified risk factors, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- Maternal infection during pregnancy (AOR: 4.1) and low birth weight (AOR: 4.1) were significant risk factors.
- Prolonged labor (AOR: 3.2), perinatal asphyxia (AOR: 2.65), and central nervous system (CNS) infection in infancy (AOR: 3.4) were also associated with CP.
- All identified factors showed a statistically significant association with cerebral palsy.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal asphyxia, maternal infection, low birth weight, prolonged labor, and infant CNS infections are significantly linked to cerebral palsy.
- Public health initiatives should focus on antenatal care and professional education in emergency obstetrics and newborn care.
- Reducing the incidence of CNS infections during infancy is critical for CP prevention.
Background:
Cerebral palsy is a frequent physical disability of childhood, causing motor impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive and behavioral issues, and secondary musculoskeletal deformities, with a global incidence of 1-4 per 1,000 children. It significantly impacts children's quality of life and imposes an economic burden on families and healthcare systems. There is limited evidence of the risk factors of cerebral palsy in Ethiopia, including in the study setting. We investigated factors associated with cerebral palsy among children attending Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
Methods:
An institution-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted among children who visited Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. Consecutive cases were recruited until the required sample size was reached, and controls were randomly selected. Data were extracted from 80 cases and 160 control charts. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for cerebral palsy. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported to show the strength of the association. The significance of the association was declared at a p-value < 0.05. The goodness-of-fit model was checked by the Hosmer and Lemeshow test.
Results:
A total of 240 participants (80 cases and 160 controls) were enrolled in the study. Maternal infection during pregnancy [AOR:4.1; 95%; 1.39, 12.1], low birth weight [AOR:4.1; 95%; 1.49, 11.2], prolonged labor [AOR:3.2; 95%;1.47, 7.00], history of perinatal asphyxia [AOR: 2.65; 95%;1.06, 6.65], and central nervous system infection during infancy [AOR:3.4; 95%; 1.21, 9.64] were risk factors for cerebral palsy.
Conclusion:
Perinatal asphyxia, maternal infection, low birth weight, prolonged labor, and CNS infection during infancy are significantly associated with cerebral palsy. Public health education should promote awareness about cerebral palsy, encourage antenatal care, and educate healthcare professionals on emergency obstetrics and newborn care. Appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the incidence of CNS infections during infancy.
