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. 2021 Oct 20;13(11):3676.
doi: 10.3390/nu13113676.

Epidemiology of Malnutrition among Children with Cerebral Palsy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Findings from the Global LMIC CP Register

Israt Jahan  1   2   3 , Mohammad Muhit  1   2 , Denny Hardianto  4 , Francis Laryea  5 , Samuel Kofi Amponsah  6 , Amir Banjara Chhetri  7 , Hayley Smithers-Sheedy  8 , Sarah McIntyre  8 , Nadia Badawi  8   9 , Gulam Khandaker  3   10   11
Affiliations

Epidemiology of Malnutrition among Children with Cerebral Palsy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Findings from the Global LMIC CP Register

Israt Jahan et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of malnutrition among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Data from children with confirmed CP aged <18 years registered into the Global LMIC CP Register (GLM CPR) from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and Ghana were included. Anthropometric measurements were collected, and nutritional status was determined following the WHO guidelines. Descriptive statistics and adjusted logistic regression were used to describe the nutritional status and identify predictors of malnutrition.

Results: Between January 2015 and December 2020, 3619 children with CP were registered into the GLM CPR (median age at assessment: 7.0 years, 39% female). Overall, 72-98% of children from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, and Ghana had at least one form of undernutrition. The adjusted analysis showed, older age, low maternal education, spastic tri/quadriplegia, and Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels III-V were significant predictors of underweight and stunting among children with CP in Bangladesh. In Nepal, female children, GMFCS III-V had higher odds of underweight and stunting. In Ghana, low maternal education was significantly associated with underweight, whereas older age and the presence of associated impairments were the significant predictors of stunting among children with CP. Having a GMFCS of III-V increased the odds of being underweight among children in Indonesia; however, no predictors were identified for stunting, as nearly all children with CP registered from Indonesia were stunted.

Conclusion: Most children with CP in GLM CPR had undernutrition. Maternal education and moderate-to-severe motor impairment (GMFCS III-V) were significant predictors. Practical nutrition education to mothers/caregivers and management guidelines according to the motor severity using local resources could improve the nutritional outcome of children with CP in LMICs.

Keywords: LMIC; cerebral palsy; children; disability; malnutrition; register; stunting; underweight.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) WAZ score distribution among children with CP aged ≤5 years vs. their peers from the general population in the same region (DHS data were not available for Indonesia). (b) HAZ score distribution among children with CP aged ≤5 years vs. their peers from the general population in the same region (DHS data were not available for Indonesia). (c) WHZ score distribution among children with CP aged ≤5 years vs. their peers from the general population in the same region (DHS data were not available for Indonesia).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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