Variables included in cerebral palsy registries globally: A scoping review

Abstract

To compare information collected about cerebral palsy (CP) in different countries globally to create a useful registry for Africa.

Researchers reviewed studies from 1990 to 2023 to identify conditions that increased the likelihood of developing CP either before birth, during birth or after birth.

197 studies were reviewed. Even though registers from both wealthy and less wealthy countries collected information about conditions that increased the likelihood of developing CP before birth, less wealthy countries focused more information on the families' social factors. For example, parental level of education, employment status, income level, as well as housing conditions (21.1% vs 1.7% in wealthy countries). Alternatively, wealthy countries focused more on factors that could be changed or controlled (e.g. maternal smoking and alcohol intake) and could not be changed or controlled (e.g. genetic conditions) to reduce the risk of CP occurring.

Less wealthy countries tracked more information on factors or events that occur after birth, potentially leading to CP. These included postnatal jaundice (15.8% vs 6.9% in wealthy countries) and postnatal head trauma (10.5% vs 5.2% in wealthy countries).