Murugasen, Serini, Springer, Priscilla, Olusanya, Bolajoko O, Gladstone, Melissa 
ORCID: 0000-0002-2579-9301, Newton, Charles, Kakooza-Mwesige, Angelina and Donald, Kirsten A
(2024)
Cerebral palsy in African paediatric populations: A scoping review.
Developmental medicine and child neurology.
Abstract
<h4>Aim</h4>To review the epidemiology and outcomes of African children with cerebral palsy (CP) over a 21-year period.<h4>Method</h4>The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science online databases were searched for original research on African children with CP aged 18 years and younger published from 2000 to 2021.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 1811 articles underwent review against explicit criteria; 93 articles were selected for inclusion in the scoping review. The reported prevalence of CP ranged from 0.8 to 10 per 1000 children. Almost half had perinatal risk factors, but up to 26% had no identifiable risk factor. At least one-third of children with CP had one or more comorbidities, most commonly epilepsy, intellectual disability, and malnutrition. African children with CP demonstrated excess premature mortality approximately 25 times that of the general population, predominantly from infections. Hospital-based and younger populations had larger proportions of children with severe impairments. African children with CP had inadequate access to care and education, yet showed functional improvements compared to controls for all evaluated interventions.<h4>Interpretation</h4>The prevalence of CP in Africa remains uncertain. African children with CP have different risk profiles, greater premature mortality, and more severe functional impairments and comorbidities compared to the Global North. Several barriers prevent access to optimal care. Larger African studies on validated and effective interventions are needed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Clinical Research, Pediatric, Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period, Brain Disorders, Prevention, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Neurosciences, Neurological, 2 Zero Hunger, 3 Good Health and Well Being |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Feb 2024 08:35 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Apr 2024 01:44 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/dmcn.15878 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15878 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178763 |
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