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Change in residential remoteness during the first 5 years of life in an Australian cerebral palsy cohort
Author(s) -
DeLacy Michael J,
Louca Christalla,
SmithersSheedy Hayley,
McIntyre Sarah
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.13013
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , residence , cohort , demography , gross motor function classification system , geography , medicine , physical therapy , sociology
Aim To determine if families of children with cerebral palsy living in Australia move to less remote areas between birth and 5 years. Method Children on the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register ( n =3399) born 1996 to 2005, were assigned a remoteness value for family residence at birth and 5 years using a modification of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard. Each value at birth was subtracted from the value at 5 years yielding a positive difference if they moved more remotely, negative difference if they moved less remotely and a value of zero if they did not move or moved to an equally remote residence. Results The small net increase in remoteness across this cohort was non‐significant ( p =0.43). Fifty‐seven per cent of families changed postcode but only 20% changed remoteness, 11% more remotely, and 9% less remotely. There was a small trend for families with a child with more impaired gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V) to move to a less remote area. Interpretation This cohort of families with children with cerebral palsy did not appear to move to less remote areas by age 5 years. Remoteness at birth and level of gross motor function seem to have little effect.