Medium and long term outcome of children living with cerebral palsy in adeveloping country

Managing children with cerebral palsy (CP) is multidisciplinary and requires long term care. This is often demanding on caregivers, leading to parental stress with resultant sub-optimal care and high default rate. This study is aimed at evaluating the medium and long term outcome of children living with CP in a developing country. A cross sectional study of children with CP five years post diagnosis was carried out in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, using medical records. Further information was obtained during follow-up visits, telephone calls and home visits. The demographic characteristics, social class, cause and type of CP, comorbidities at initial diagnosis were documented. The status of the children 5 years post diagnosis was also recorded. Outcome was categorized into limited disabilities, major handicaps, loss to follow up and dead. Simple proportions and percentages were used to analyze data. Records of 50 children with CP were obtained. Fourteen (28%) still attend follow- up clinic regularly of which 9(18%) have limited disabilities and attending conventional schools, 5(10%) have major handicap and are attending special schools. Three (6%) had died and 33 (66%) were lost to follow up, of which further inquiry showed that five children were left to the care of their relations. There was high default rate probably attributable to parental stress, financial constraints, poor response to therapy and feeling of stigmatization. Paucity and high cost of special schools were other factors responsible for sub optimal care of children with CP. We recommend the establishment of a comprehensive social support scheme and special schools for children with disabilities