Premium
Perinatal care with a view to preventing cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Badawi Nadia,
Mcintyre Sarah,
Hunt Rod W
Publication year - 2021
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.14754
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , medicine , intervention (counseling) , population , health care , pregnancy , public health , neurology , pediatrics , family medicine , environmental health , nursing , psychiatry , political science , genetics , biology , law
Birth prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) is declining in high‐income countries, to as low as 1.4 per 1000 live births in the most recent international reports. This represents a 35% reduction in birth prevalence over a 15‐year period. This reduction is underpinned by a heightened focus of attention towards all aspects of CP, including: increased awareness, better data collection, development of national networks and registries, an explosion of research in basic science, perinatal care, neonatal neurology, public health, early detection, and targeted early intervention. Quick uptake of evidence into practice has ensued and overall improvements in clinical care occurred concurrently. It is anticipated that with continued partnerships with families, ongoing research driving further clinical improvement and vice versa, birth prevalence and severity of CP will further decline and the focus will shift to prevention in low‐ and middle‐income countries. What this paper adds Research in the field of perinatal care and cerebral palsy (CP) prevention has increased significantly. In high‐income countries, increased awareness of CP and scientific advances have improved clinical care. Population‐based registers have limitations but remain the best mechanism to quantify birth prevalence of CP and accurately track trends. There have been recent reductions in the birth prevalence of CP.