Risk factor profiles in infants born preterm and at term with cerebral palsy in Argentina: Findings from the Argentine Cerebral Palsy Register

Cerebral palsy (CP) can develop due to brain injury occurring before, during, or shortly after birth. Some risk factors are more common in infants born preterm, while others are more common in full-term infants. This study used data from 496 children and young adults with CP registered in the Argentine Cerebral Palsy Registry (RAR-PC). We analyzed medical information collected from clinical records along with information provided by families to explore how previously documented risk factors tended to occur together in infants born preterm and full-term. We found that prenatal risk factors for children with CP strongly linked with multiple births and low birthweight, while the use of assisted reproductive technology showed a weak association. Neonatal intensive care unit admission and special medical care at birth also showed an association. In full-term infants, a strong association was observed with a history of home birth, incomplete prenatal care, and perinatal asphyxia. And to a lesser extent, it was associated with maternal age under 18 years or over 37 years, unplanned cesarean sections, and feeding difficulties during the first month of life. Certain social circumstances were observed in both groups, such as overcrowding in the home, the father's low level of education, and unemployment and low level of education of the family's main income-earner.