Rehabilitation status of children with cerebral palsy in Vietnam: findings from a cross-sectional hospital-based study

Purpose: To examine rehabilitation service use and associated factors among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Vietnam. Materials and methods: This study uses data from hospital-based surveillance of children with CP who attended the National Children’s Hospital, Hanoi between June and November 2017 using methodology modeled on the Pediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance system in Australia. Descriptive statistics, exact tests, and logistic regression were used. Results: Of 765 children with CP, 92.6% received rehabilitation services. The median age at first receipt of rehabilitation service was nine months. Physiotherapy (94.3%) was the most common service, followed by advice on treatment (21.5%), rehabilitation childcare, psychological counseling for parents and assistive devices (11.5%). Among children who received rehabilitation services, the majority (88.8%) received them at home. Lack of awareness of rehabilitation (98.2%) was the main barrier to service access. In univariate analysis, younger age (p < 0.01), no intellectual impairment (p < 0.001), Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV-V (p < 0.05), and wasted weight-for-height (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with limited service use. In multivariate analysis, no intellectual impairment and wasted weight-for-height remained significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: While most children accessed rehabilitation services, younger age, severe motor impairment, and malnutrition were associated with limited access to these services.