Determination of nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study was planned and conducted to determine the nutritional status of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and the factors affecting it. METHODS: The sample of the study consists of randomly selected 40 children diagnosed with CP, who were between the ages 7-17, who lived in the province of Ankara, and who were able to eat orally. Research data was collected by face to face interviews with one of the parents by a questionnaire. To determine the status of food consumption, one-day consumption information was obtained by the repeated 24-hour recalls. RESULTS: Of the children, 60.0% were boys and 40.0% were girls with the mean age of 12.3 ± 3.3 years. It was determined that 30.0% of the children were extremely underweight, 20.0% were underweight, 12.5% were overweight, and 2.5% were obese while only 35.0% of them were found to have normal Body Mass Index (BMI). 52.5% of the children had eating problems. Most common problems encountered during eating were keeping the food in the mouth (73.5%), spilling the food over (58.0%), and coughing or choking spells during eating (42.0%). Of the most commonly encountered problems, drooling was most frequent (42.5%). Of the reported problems encountered in less than two weeks, loss of appetite and constipation rank the second by 22.5%; swallowing and chewing difficulties, and lack of interest in food rank third by 20.0%. It was demonstrated that of the children with cerebral palsy, 80.0% had insufficient intake of fiber, 72.5% had insufficient intake of calcium, and 67.5% had insufficient intake of folate. In general, the energy intake was found not sufficient; while protein intake was adequate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: To determine the feeding problems and improving the nutritional status by developing problem specific solutions will bring along better life quality for the children with CP.