The Relationship between Manual Ability and Self-Care in Children Aged ۱-۸ Years with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Limitations in the ability to perform manual functions decrease the individual's participation in activities of daily living (ADLs). Thus, it is required to study the relationship between manual skills and self-care activities in children. This study aims to investigate the relationship between manual ability and self-care in children with spastic cerebral palsy at the ages of ۱ to ۸ years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۱۲۵ children aged ۱-۸ years with spastic cerebral palsy who were chosen by the convenience sampling method from ۸ occupational therapy clinics in Tehran City, Iran, in ۲۰۲۲ were studied. The evaluation tools were manual ability classification system (MACS), mini-manual ability classification system (Mini-MACS), pediatric evaluation of disability inventory (PEDI), and cognitive level form designed in the SPARCLE project. After collecting the data, Stata software۱۴ was used to analyze data using chi-square, Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and regression. Results: In this research, the mean age of the children was ۵۴.۲ ± ۱۵ months and ۴۳.۲% had a cognitive level greater than ۷۰. The mean self-care and mobility in children were ۴۹.۶۵ ± ۳۰.۶۰ and ۴۰.۷۸ ± ۲۶.۹۷, respectively. With increasing age, self-care and mobility of children showed a significant increase (P < ۰.۰۰۱). No significant difference was observed between boys and girls in self-care and mobility (P < ۰.۰۵). By changing the education level of the main caregiver, no significant difference was found in self-care and mobility (P < ۰.۰۵). With the increase in children's cognitive ability level and MACS level, self-care and mobility improved significantly (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Moreover, the level of MACS and mobility with the highest beta values (-۰.۵۳۰ and ۰.۵۱۲, respectively) showed a greater contribution to the prediction of self-care. Conclusion: The results showed that with increasing age, cognitive ability level, and MACS level, self-care and mobility improve significantly in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is suggested to pay more attention to manual ability to improve self-care and mobility in these children.

کلیدواژه ها:

Manual ability classification system (MACS) ، Mobility ، Self-care ، Spastic cerebral palsy ​​​​​​​