Publication:

A global review of cerebral palsy in children: family caregiver burden, risk factors, prevalence and the evolution of technology and policy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture resulting from non-progressive disturbances in the developing foetal or infant brain and remains the most common physical disability in childhood. Despite advances in neonatal care and public health measures, CP continues to impose substantial clinical, social, and economic burdens worldwide. This narrative review aimed to examine the global prevalence of CP, associated clinical and social risk factors, family impacts, and contemporary government policies influencing its management. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, national CP registers, published epidemiological studies, and healthcare policy reports from both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. The review identified significant variations in CP prevalence across regions, with approximately 8.1 million children under five years of age living with CP globally. Birth prevalence has declined to approximately 1.6 per 1,000 live births in high-income countries but remains higher in low-income settings, reaching 3.4 per 1,000 live births, while the estimated prevalence in India is approximately 3 per 1,000 live births. Prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal jaundice, and perinatal complications were identified as major risk factors. Families of children with CP frequently experience increased healthcare expenditures, psychosocial stress, and caregiver burden. Recent technological advances, including machine learning–based screening and diagnostic approaches, have enabled earlier identification of CP between 9 and 18 weeks of age. The review highlights a global shift toward family-centered and technology-supported care; however, substantial disparities in access to advanced interventions persist across different socioeconomic settings. Strengthening affordable early detection strategies, rehabilitation services, and supportive national health policies is essential to reduce inequities and improve outcomes for children with CP and their families.