Abstract
Background: Children with cerebral palsy are frequently associated with poor growth mainly due to inadequate nutritional intake resulting from feeding difficulties. The majority of the studies on growth status of children with cerebral palsy had been performed in western countries.
Objectives: To evaluate growth status of a sample of children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study on 92 Iraqi children with cerebral palsy (52 males and 40 females). All the care givers were interviewed and anthropometric measurements of children were performed.
Results: Mean age was 2.8±1.66 years with 17.4% of children were infants, 67.4% were less than 5 years of age, and 15.2% were
5 years and more. The percentage of weight for age, height for age, and weight for height z-scores under 2SD were 32.6%, 34.78%, and 11.95% respectively, and they were all higher among children of the older age group 5 years and more. Microcephally was present in 36.95% of cases, and macrocephally in 3.26% of cases. Conclusion: The study showed that the children with cerebral palsy suffer from growth retardation.
Objectives: To evaluate growth status of a sample of children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study on 92 Iraqi children with cerebral palsy (52 males and 40 females). All the care givers were interviewed and anthropometric measurements of children were performed.
Results: Mean age was 2.8±1.66 years with 17.4% of children were infants, 67.4% were less than 5 years of age, and 15.2% were
5 years and more. The percentage of weight for age, height for age, and weight for height z-scores under 2SD were 32.6%, 34.78%, and 11.95% respectively, and they were all higher among children of the older age group 5 years and more. Microcephally was present in 36.95% of cases, and macrocephally in 3.26% of cases. Conclusion: The study showed that the children with cerebral palsy suffer from growth retardation.