Cerebral palsy in SA: a call for comprehensive care and support

CELEBRATED on November 20 each year, World Children's Day raises awareness about the rights and welfare of children while also highlighting the enormous challenges they face. One of these challenges is cerebral palsy (CP).

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REGAN SOLOMONS

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of permanent movement and posture disorders caused by injury to or abnormal development of the brain early in life, leading to difficulties with movement and coordination. Although the brain injury does not progress, its impact on movement and function may worsen over time without sustained and coordinated treatment and care.

Globally, the prevalence of CP remains relatively constant in high-income countries but is considerably higher in low-and middle-income countries where perinatal complications (complications during late pregnancy to the first week or month after birth), limited access to skilled obstetric care, and deep social and economic inequalities persist.

In South Africa, CP is a major cause of disability in children and reflects the enduring consequences of injury to the foetus or newborn brain. Managing CP in this context requires attention to the medical, social, and structural factors that influence both the onset of the condition and how it affects children throughout their lives.

The increased prevalence of CP in South Africa is closely linked to newborns experiencing a lack of oxygen, early births, neonatal infections, and delayed recognition of high-risk pregnancies. Underlying factors during pregnancy could potentially be a further contributory factor, but needs further study.

Socioeconomic inequities exacerbate these risks: poverty, malnutrition, and poor maternal health contribute to complications that affect a baby at or near birth, while unemployment and poor living conditions compound the long-term impact of disability.