Obstetrics determinants of cerebral palsy in children from birth to five years

ABSTRACT

To determine obstetrics risk factors for cerebral palsy from birth to 5 years children. A hospital based cross sectional survey. This study was conducted in outpatient department, Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi, Pakistan during October 2007 to October 2010. Children with cerebral palsy between births to 5 years of age were included in the study. The Sampling technique was non probability purposive. Data was analyzed as frequency and association by chi-square in SPSS version 15. Children enrolled in this study were 300 their Mean age +/- SD was age 4.9 +/- SD 3.6 yrs. Mean maternal age +/- SD was 30.8 +/- 6.5 years. Mostly mothers had secondary level of education 110 [36.7]. Father's Mean income +/- SD was 11587 +/- SD. During assessment the pregnancy risk factors were mostly hypertension 55 [18.3%], diabetes mellitus 28 [9.3%] seizures 11 [3.7%] placenta previa 4 [1.3%]. The commonest risk factor was birth asphyxia in one third of children and two third of the deliveries were conducted in institutions as spontaneous vaginal deliveries. Birth asphyxia is the major obstetrics risk factors for cerebral palsy from birth to 5 years children. The obstetrics practices require revisiting and reprogramming to reduce cerebral palsy