Correlation of cerebral palsy with some perinatal factors surveyed among hospitals, schools and rehabilitation institution around Metro Manila

• Main Author: Salud, Jonathan Victor Espiritu
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Cerebral palsied children; Brain damage; Perinatology; Correlation (Statistics); Factor analysis
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1603
• Institution: De La Salle University

A total of 81 mothers with cerebral palsied children were interviewed. These mothers had their children treated at the following centers: Philippine Children's Medical Centre, ELKS Cerebral Palsy Project, National Orthopedic Hospital, and Cupertino School for Special Children. About 53.1% of the children were the youngest in their family, 17.3% were the eldest, 11.1% were middle children, and 19% were solo children. 88.9% were delivered by doctors, 7.4% by midwives, and 3.7% by manghihilots. Most of these infants were born in hospitals (84%), followed by houses (11.1%), and clinics (4.9%). Regarding the manner of delivery, 61.7% were normal spontaneous, 6.2% were normal assisted, and 32.1% were caesarean section. Those presented cephalic were 81.5%, breech at 8.6%, and 9.9% were unknown. Among all the factors considered in the study, the most frequently associated ones were being the youngest child (36/81), premature delivery (26/81), cord around neck (9/81), smoking (8/81), and twin pregnancy (7/81). Of all the mothers, 91.4% consulted regularly with their gynecologist, while 39.5% experienced difficult labor. From the data, the most probable factors that maybe related to cerebral palsy occurrence are: being the youngest child, premature delivery, cord around neck, smoking, and twin pregnancy. However, a comparative case-control study is needed in order to form a definite conclusion. Cerebral palsy, although unknown to many, is the leading cause of childhood disability. It must be given proper attention, for this condition is permanent.