Access to physiotherapy
Access to early physiotherapy was dependent on referral source
(p< 0.000) and number of risk factors
(p< 0.000) (Table 2). There was no significant
difference in age at first visit regarding motor severity or type of CP.
Infants referred from the neonatologist had significantly earlier access
to physiotherapy than infants referred from the neuropediatrician
(p= 0.021) and the CHS (p <0.000) (Table 1/Fig.
1). On average, infants referred from the neonatologist were 6 weeks old
at first visit to physiotherapy (Table 1), while the corresponding age
for infants referred from the neuropediatrician and the CHS was
approximately 6 and 11 months, respectively.
Infants with ≥3 known risk factors for CP had significantly earlier
access to physiotherapy than children with no known risk factors
(p <0.000) or those with one or two (p =0.011)
(Table 2/Fig. 1). On average, infants with ≥3 known risk factors were
less than 6 weeks of age at first visit to physiotherapy (Table 1),
while the corresponding age for infants with no known risk factors and
those with one or two was approximately 11 and 5 months, respectively.
The severity of motor impairment (p =0.001) and the number of
known risk factors (p =0.014) influenced age at referral to the
habilitation services (Table 2/Fig. 1). Children at GMFCS Level IV and V
were referred at a significantly younger age than children at GMFCS
Level I (p =0.004 and p =0.015, respectively), and children
with ≥3 known risk factors were referred significantly earlier than
children with no known risk factors (p =0.037). Referral source
and type of CP did not influence age at referral to the habilitation
services.