Suriname Cerebral Palsy Register - preliminary data from the first hospital-based surveillance of children with cerebral palsy in Suriname

AimTo describe the epidemiology of cerebral palsy (CP) among children and their access to rehabilitation and education in Suriname. MethodsHospital-based surveillance of children with CP at the Academic Hospital in Suriname between August 2018 and March 2020. ResultsData were collected from 82 children with CP (mean (SD) age: 5y 0mo (3y 10mo)). The median age of diagnosis was 5y 2mo. Spastic CP was predominant (73.2%), 58.8% had gross motor function classification system level III-V. Overall, 42.2% had preterm birth compared to 13.9% reported nationally (p<0.001), 57% had birth-related complications in comparison to 15% reported nationally (p<0.001). Additionally, 39.1% had birth asphyxia, 23.2% had early feeding difficulties. Sixty-two percent were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 54.0% of them required ventilation. Majority (82.5%) had CP acquired pre-or perinatally and 17.5% had CP acquired post-neonatally. Sixteen percent had never received any rehabilitation services, and 31.9% of the school-aged children were not enrolled in any education system. InterpretationThe high burden of known risk factors, substantially delayed diagnosis and severe functional impairment among registered children with CP in Suriname is concerning. Public health interventions targeting early diagnosis and intervention could improve the functional outcome of children with CP in Suriname. What this paper adds The epidemiology of cerebral palsy (CP) among children in Suriname using data from the first hospital-based surveillance of CP in the country and region. Children with CP in Surname are diagnosed too late for early intervention. Most of the children with CP have potentially-preventable risk factors. Majority of them have severe functional limitations. Targeted actions for early diagnosis and intervention, rehabilitation and inclusive education for children with CP is required in Suriname.