SynthesisBMC neurology2026
Prevalence and aetiology of cerebral palsy among Nigerian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Abstract
backgroundNigeria is among the leading countries contributing to the burden of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy (CP) is the commonest physical disability in childhood, accounting for 16.2% of child neurology referrals. Many cases of CP are preventable with simple interventions such as neonatal resuscitation and effective phototherapy. Lack of reliable data on the burden of disease limits comprehensive national policy directed to the prevention, holistic care and rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy in Nigeria. Therefore, to effectively address this problem, this study aimed to describe the pooled prevalence of CP in Nigeria, its potential causes and types.
methodsThis was a systematic review and meta-analysis of published articles on Nigerian children less than 18 years with CP. A combination of controlled vocabulary and keyword searching was used to reflect the core concepts of CP in Nigeria. Searches were conducted in nine databases and articles were screened using Rayyan. Data extraction forms were developed and refined by the team. Risk of Bias Tool was derived from the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018.
resultsOne hundred and twelve articles were initially included following title/abstract screening from 330 distinct articles. Thirty-nine studies involving 194,831 children were eventually included in the review with about half (18/39) from the South-West. The pooled prevalence of CP in Nigeria was 32.5% (95%CI 25.5-39.9%) in neurology/physiotherapy clinics, 1.7% in the general Paediatric clinic/admissions, and 0.22% (95%CI 0.20-0.24%) in community settings. A higher proportion of individuals with CP were male (59.4%) compared to female (40.6%). Asphyxia and neonatal jaundice were the leading causes of CP accounting for 37.1% (95%CI 31.3-43.2%) and 24.8% (95%CI 20.4-29.5%), respectively. There was a high degree of heterogeneity in most of the data on prevalence, types and causes of CP (I
conclusionThis review highlights the high prevalence of CP in Nigeria. Tackling the leading preventable causes of CP calls for urgent public health interventions such as improved obstetric and neonatal care, in addition to improved rehabilitation services for children with CP.
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