Abstract
Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of pediatric motor disability. While epidemiological data are widespread in high-income countries, corresponding data in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa are still rare. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CP in Northern Benin, a French-speaking low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This study was a community-based door-to-door study involving children younger than 18 years old, in Parakou, a semi-urban city in Benin. We used a two-stage procedure. The first one consisted on children screening to identify potential cases of CP. During the second stage, suspected children were examined by neurologists with high experience with CP. Results: In total, 2,630 children were screened with 10 confirmed cases of CP, resulting in a crude prevalence (95% confidence interval) of 3.8 (1.4, 6.15) per 1,000 children. Of the 10 confirmed cases, six were younger than 5 years old, and five were male. Eight children over ten were spastic with six bilateral spastic subtype according to the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe classification system. Seven children had a Gross Motor Function Classification System level III–V, and six were classified level III to V of the manual ability classification system. Conclusion: CP is highly prevalent in semi-urban area in Northern Benin. Large studies on potential risk factors are needed for the development of effective preventive strategies.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.