Purpose: Cerebral palsy is the commonest cause of disability in childhood. Advances in the perinatology have led to increased survival of pre-term and change in distribution of different types of CP.

The purpose of this study is to find out the clinical spectrum, socioeconomic and other risk factor associated with CP.

Methodology: It is an ongoing study being conducted in patients of CP who attended the out patient department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center of SMS hospital Jaipur from 1st July 2004 till date. A detailed history was mother was taken using pre-structured Performa this was followed by complete physical, developmental and neurological examination of the child.

Results: Out of 63 patients, males predominated (45, 71.4%) in the age group of 2-5 years. (22, 35%). Most common type of CP is spastic (57, 90.5%) diplegia (33, 52%), visual impairment (24, 38%) is most common associated anomaly followed by mental retardation (23, 37%) whereas epilepsy is found in 19 (30.2%). None of the patients in the study has hearing impairment.

Percentage of cerebral palsy is more in nuclear families (29, 46%) with less educated parents. Fathers educated up to senior secondary (22, 35%) & mothers illiterate (18, 29%).

Socioeconomic status of these parents is such that their monthly income is Rs.5000-10000 (19, 30%) with either parent in govt. or private job (21, 33%).

Chances of brain damage are more in first 2 birth orders (41%, 38% respectively) in mothers of 20-25 years of age (29, 48%) with low birth weight (24, 38%) and birth asphyxiated infants (36, 57%) 70% of the deliveries. Out of 30% home deliveries, 57% are conducted by untrained dais & 43% by trained dais.

Discussion and Conclusion: CP can be prevented to some extend by educating them for hospital deliveries, whichever hospital facilities are not available regular updating educational programmes should be conducted for retraining of trained dais.

Childhood Disability Update 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2006 [cited 15 January 2006(Supplement 1)];3. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
Epidemiology_Childhood_Disability.asp