Association Between Gross Motor Function and Associated Impairments among Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy in Selected Hospitals in Kano City

Abstract

Associated impairments may produce even greater activity limitation than the motor impairments that are the hallmark of cerebral palsy. In this  study, the association between gross motor function and associated impairments in children with severe cerebral palsy in selected hospitals in Kano  city was evaluated. It was a cross sectional study that recruited 52 participants using a purposive sampling technique. Gross Motor function  was assessed with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and spasticity was measured with modified Ashworth scale. Associated  impairments were evaluated both objectively and subjectively. The data obtained was analysed with inferential statistic of Chi-square at alpha level  of 0.05 .The children in this study comprised of 17(32.7%) females and 35(67.3%) males with mean age of 2.0846 ± 1.76 years. Majority of them had  spastic (42.3%) and athetoid (42.3%) Cerebral palsy (CP) types. There was significant association between Gross Motor function and each of speech  (P<0.05) and hearing (P<0.05) impairments. Children with severe forms of CP in Kano suffered more speech (73.1%) and cognitive impairments  (53.85%) when compared with the other forms of associated impairments. Impairment of ability to speak well or understand spoken word was  significantly connected with severity of deterioration of physical function in children with CP. There was therefore the need for thorough assessment  of associated impairments in children with cerebral palsy especially hearing and speech impairment with prompt referral to the  appropriate health personnel for further evaluation early treatment.