PREVALENCE OF CEREBRAL PALSY IN CHILDREN OF DISTRICT SWABI, KHYBER PUKHTUNKHWA - PAKISTAN

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) in children of district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. METHODS: This study was carried out among children of age 4-10 years of age at district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The data was collected by a survey questionnaire adopted from surveillance of cerebral palsy in Europe (SCPE) study. Parents of the children were interviewed and completed the questionnaires. District Swabi comprised of 56 union councils with a population of 1.3 million (annual growth rate of 2.96%). Study was conducted at all (56) union councils between February and June 2014. RESULTS: A total of 278 children were found as sufferers from CP, out of which 191 (68.7%) were male children and 87 (45.5%) were female. Mean age was 7.6+1.97 years. Prevalence rate was recorded as 1.22/1000 live births. The most affected children were found in the age group between 9–10 (39.6%) years. Out of 278 children, 109 (39.2%) were severely affected, 112 (40.3%) were moderately and 57 (20.5%) were mildly affected. Almost half of the children (49.6%) were suffering from spastic quadriplegia. The frequency of affected children was higher from urban areas (91.7%) as compared to rural areas (8.3%). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of CP in children was 1.22/1000 live births in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Majority of affected children were in the age group of 9-10 (39.6%) years. About half of the affected children had spastic quadriplegia and severe deformities were recorded in 39.2% cases. KEY WORDS: Cerebral Palsy (MeSH), Cerebral Palsy, Monoplegic, Infantile (MeSH), Cerebral Palsy, Quadriplegic, Infantile (MeSH), Cerebral Palsy, Spastic (MeSH), Spastic Diplegia (MeSH), Cerebral Palsy Children (Non-MeSH)