Mobility and participation of children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy in the interior of the Amazon

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the participation and mobility of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in the interior of the Amazon. Methods: This is an observational research carried out with the application of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) to assess mobility, the Participation and Environment Measure - Children and Youth (PEM-CY) and a sociodemographic questionnaire with parents of children and adolescents with CP in a public physiotherapy service in Santarém-Pará. Results: 30 parents were interviewed referring to 30 children and adolescents with CP, their average age was 7.06 years. There was a predominance of GMFCS levels IV (30%) and V (26.6%). The participation of children and adolescents with CP was reduced in terms of frequency, diversity and involvement. Involvement in activities was similar in the three environments, home, school and community, however, the frequency and number of such activities was lower in the school and in the community. The average frequency in the three environments was 2.62±1.08, involvement was 4.2±0.97, and the reported desire for change was 31.2%. Of the activities, children and adolescents with CP participated on average in 51.3%. GMFCS individuals from levels I, II, III had a significantly higher frequency of participation at home than those from levels IV and V (p=0.042). Conclusion: Children and adolescents with CP are at greater risk of reduced participation in all settings.