Feeding problems and malnutrition associated factors in a North African sample of multidisabled children with cerebral palsy.
Most North African kids with severe CP are underweight and constipated—screen nutrition and bowels at every visit.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Boudokhane et al. (2021) visited clinics in North Africa. They weighed and interviewed 40 children with severe cerebral palsy.
The team asked about swallowing, vomiting, and bowel habits. They wanted to see how many kids were underweight and why.
What they found
Two-thirds of the children were underweight. Most had trouble swallowing, acid reflux, or constipation.
Older age and constipation were the strongest warning signs for poor nutrition.
How this fits with other research
Lim et al. (2023) and Fong et al. (2023) both map African and Middle-Eastern disability research. They show that basic health studies like this one are still rare in the region.
Germany et al. (2013) saw CP rates drop in Europe. Soumaya’s group shows that when kids do survive severe CP in North Africa, they often face hunger and pain.
Reader et al. (2025) found that half of young European kids with CP have pain and one-third have sleep problems. Together with Soumaya’s feeding data, the picture is clear: CP brings many hidden medical burdens no matter where you live.
Why it matters
If you work with children who have severe motor impairment, weigh them and ask about bowel habits. Treat constipation early and refer for swallow tests. These simple steps can prevent the malnutrition Soumaya’s team documented.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: In European and North American countries, stunting and malnutrition are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially those with multiple disabilities. The extent of this problem in children with CP in North African countries is still unknown. AIMS: To evaluate feeding problems and growth in a sample of North African multidisabled children with CP and to determine the factors associated with malnutrition in this population. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study including multidisabled children with severe CP. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness) were performed. In addition, a thorough nutritional survey was conducted including feeding time and the presence of signs in favor of gastrointestinal problems. RESULTS: We included 40 children, mainly boys (60 %) with a mean age of 6.4 ± 3.7 (range 2-16 years). The nutritional survey had revealed the presence of dysphagia, constipation and gastroesophageal reflux in 55 %, 67.5 % and 70 % of cases, respectively. Sixty-five percent of children had a mealtime over 30 min. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts, 67.5 % of children were underweight. Forty percent of the children had their weight below the 20th percentile, 5 % and 7.5 % had their height and BMI below the 5th percentile according to CP specific growth charts. Triceps skinfold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference were below the 5th percentile in 50 % and 55 % of cases, respectively. Age (p = 0.047) and constipation (p = 0.003) were identified as predictors of malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Growth parameters and nutritional status are significantly altered in in our sample of North African multidisabled children with CP with a high prevalence of feeding problems represented especially by dysphagia, constipation and GER. Among the studied factors age and constipation may predict the existence of undernutrition.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104084