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199 Cerebral palsy in children: subtypes, motor function and associated impairments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

bmjpo · 2026-07-14 · canonical JSON source

4 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Although there is no population-level data in Ethiopia, a previous retrospective hospital-based study identified cerebral palsy (CP) as the most common developmental disability in children. This study aims to describe the clinical spectrum of CP at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, including CP subtype, motor function, associated impairments, and possible risk factors in children aged 2 to 18 years. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 among 207 children with suspected motor symptoms. The Surveillance of CP in Europe (SCPE) decision tree guided inclusion, and evaluations were performed using standardized questionnaires and clinical examinations. Statistical analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methods, with Chi-square tests, crude associations, and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Of the 174 children who met the clinical criteria, 50.6% were under 5 years old, with a mean age of 5.6 years (SD 3.6); 55.2% were male. The majority had bilateral spastic CP (60.4%), followed by unilateral spastic CP (21.8%), dyskinetic CP (10.4%), and ataxic CP (3.4%); 4% were unclassifiable. Speech difficulties were present in 95.4%, learning disabilities in 87.4%, epilepsy in 60.9%, visual impairment in 24.7%, and hearing impairment in 8.6%. On the GMFCS and MACS scales, 75.3% had level IV and V impairments. Over 80% of mothers had delivery complications, and neonates faced immediate post-birth challenges. In conclusion, severe forms of CP predominate, with most children dependent on parents for daily activities and communication. These findings argue strongly for improving maternal-child healthcare and Multidisciplinary focused habilitation services.