Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy in Ghana
Submitted: 17 September 2023 | Published: 31 July 2024
About the author(s)
Israt Jahan, CSF Global, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD); University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Central Queensland University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Rockhampton, Queensland, AustraliaRisad Sultana, CSF Global, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD), University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Francis Laryea, Korlebu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Samuel Kofi Amponsah, Health Information Department, Christian Health Association of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Frederick Inkum Danquah, St. John of God College of Health, Duayaw Nkwanta, Ghana
Mohammad Muhit, CSF Global, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD), University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sk. Md. Kamrul Bashar, CSF Global, Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD), University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Sarah McIntyre, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Nadia Badawi, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia; and Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
Gulam Khandaker, CSF Global, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Asian Institute of Disability and Development (AIDD), University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Central Queensland University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia; Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland, Australia; and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Abstract
Background: Limited knowledge on nutritional epidemiology in Ghanaian children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) necessitates a comprehensive investigation for an improved understanding of malnutrition in this population.
Objectives: We aimed to describe the epidemiology of malnutrition among children with CP in Ghana.
Methods: The study used data collected as part of the Ghana CP Register (GCPR). The GCPR is an institution-based surveillance of children with CP aged < 18 years in Ghana. Between October 2018 and April 2020, N = 455 children with CP were registered. Data were collected on (i) weight, length or height, mid-upper-arm-circumference of children with CP; (ii) socio-demographic characteristics; (iii) motor type and topography, gross motor function classification system level (GMFCS); (iv) associated impairments; (v) educational and rehabilitation status for each child. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed.
Results: Mean and standard deviation age of the registered children at assessment was 5.9 ± 4.1 years, and 42.1% were female. Two-thirds of the children had ≥ one form of undernutrition (underweight or severely underweight: 38.9%, stunted or severely stunted: 51.2%, thin or severely thin: 23.8%). In the adjusted analysis, low maternal education, GMFCS-IV, speech impairment and epilepsy significantly increased the odds of undernutrition among participating children (aOR: 2.6 [95% CI:1.3–5.4]; 2.2 [95% CI:1.0–4.8]; 2.0 [95% CI:1.1–3.6]; 2.9 [95% CI:1.1–7.5] respectively).
Conclusions: The high malnutrition rate indicates an urgent need for nutrition interventions and translational research to improve nutritional status and prevent adverse outcomes among children with CP in Ghana.
Contribution: Our study contributes important data and a framework to develop guidelines and evidence-based interventions for children with CP in Ghana.
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goal
Metrics
Total abstract views: 538Total article views: 355