Document resource
Malnutrition is a common comorbidity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially in low-resource settings. Feeding difficulties, poor dietary intake, and severe motor impairments contribute to poor nutritional outcomes. This study describes the nutritional status of children with CP in Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital(TASH), Addis Ababa and explores its association with motor function and feeding ability. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was involving 174 children aged 2–18 years with confirmed CP. Anthropometric measurements were taken using WHO standards. Feeding history, ability, and difficulties were assessed through caregiver interviews. Motor function was classified using GMFCS and MACS. Statistical analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methods. Half were above the age of 5 years with a mean age of 5.6 (SD 3.6) years; 60.4% bilateral spastic,21.8% unilateral spastic, 10.4% dyskinetic, and 3.4% ataxic CP. Feeding difficulties affected 59.8%, chewing difficulty (76.4%) and drooling (61.3%). Only 13.2% could feed themselves. Nutritional indicators included underweight (56.9%), stunting (63.2%), wasting (31%), and microcephaly (65.1%). Moderate to Severe malnutrition affected 30% of children. Stunting was significantly associated with lower feeding frequency (AOR = 5.8) and underweight with CP subtype (AOR = 2.2). GMFCS IV–V was strongly associated with manual ability limitations (AOR = 27.2). Malnutrition was most prevalent among children with bilateral spastic CP and those unable to feed themselves. This underscores the need for routine nutritional screening in children with severe CP and highlights the critical role of early CP identification before severe impairments develop to enable timely nutritional and rehabilitative interventions.