The need for improved perinatal care in prevention of cerebral palsy

Abstract

Of 314 children assessed at the Ontario Crippled Children's Centre during 1975-77, 84% had cerebral palsy resulting from potentially preventable perinatal factors. The importance of risk scoring in pregnancy is stressed, as is the necessity for referral to a well equipped perinatal centre when problems are anticipated. The majority of children in this study were born in centres where these facilities were not available.