Case-control study on risk factors of childhood cerebral palsy

  Objective   To indentify possible risk factors of cerebral palsy(CP)in children.

  Methods   A hospital-based 1: 2 matched case-control study was carried out in 103 children with CP and 206 controls individually matched for sex and age were selected for each case. The data were analyzd by conditional Logistic regression.

  Results   Eleven risk factors were suggested from univariate analysis, namely mother occupation, abnormal perinatal history, maternal malnutrition and anemia during pregnancy, premature birth, lower birth weight, lower apgar score, neonatal diseases. The risk factors confirmed by multivariate analysis were mother occupation, premature birth, neonatal asphyxia.

  Conclusion   Relevant risk factors of CP could be seen primarily in gestational and perinatal periods. Their prevention could reduce the incidene of cerebral palsy.