Risk factors and types of cerebral palsy

Objective: To determine the risk factors and associated types of cerebral palsy in a squatter settlement of Karachi. Methods: The pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi during 2010 and 2011. Data was collected through an interviewed questionnaire from the mothers of cerebral palsy victims children from a population of 6000. Sample sizes of 20 pre-diagnosed victims were selected through snowball sampling. SPSS 20 was used for statistical significance. Results: The mean age of the 20 children was 8.7 +/- 6.4 years. Of them, 16(80%) were males and 4(20%) were females. Major risk factors identified were; home and assisted delivery 5 (75%), consanguinity 10 (50%), infections 8 (40%) and lack of antenatal care 6 (30%). Out of 20 cases, 15 (75%) had spastic type of cerebral palsy, which was further classified as diplegia 7 (35%), quadriplegia 6 (30%) and hemiplegia 2 (10%). Mixed and dystonic types were found in 3 (15%) and 2 (10%) children respectively. Conclusion: Important risk factors identified were home delivery, consanguinity and infections during pregnancy. Spastic type of cerebral palsy was the most common type in the study population.