Incidence of cerebral palsy

Incidence of cerebral palsy is difficult to find in most developing countries because it this is not captured in the population census or any other surveys. However, the incidence of disability is available but the breakdown of the statistics does not show the full picture of cerebral palsy in the total population.

According to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Zambia population was 9,337,425. The persons with disabilities were 2.7% of the total population. The census also showed that physical disability was the most prominent disability in Zambia. Other disabilities include, partially sighted, hard of hearing, mentally ill, the deaf, mentally retarded and the blind.

It was also reported that the major causes of disability were, malnutrition, accidents, infectious diseases, non infectious diseases and other factors.

The 2010 Census of Population estimated the population of persons with disabilities at about 3%.

A survey to determine the spread of cerebral palsy in the country has not been done. I checked in government offices and health institutions for statistics on cerebral palsy but it was not readily available.

This non definition of the size of the persons with cerebral palsy makes it dificult for an meaningful intervention to manage cerebral palsy by government or other stakeholders. My feeling is that there is under estimation of the magnitude of the problem. A good number of children with cerebral palsy do not go to school and do not even attend physiotherapy because they do not have acccess to the facilities. Some parents tend to conceal or hide these children from the public. There is a need for sensistisation of parents to bring out the children with cerebral palsy and let them be counted.

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Zambia (CPAZ) in consultation with the government is challenged to carry out a study to determine the incidence of cerebral palsy. CPAZ should closely work with the Zambia Agency for Persons with disabilities to carry out a survey on cerebral palsy.

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