Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the relation between premature and cerebral palsy(CP).MethodsTo sample all the children between the age of 1 to 6 years old for investigating CP situation in Nanning city, Heng county and Qinbei region of Qinzhou city (once named Qinzhou county ) from May to December, 1998 by qualified pediatricians.ResultsThe total investigating cases were 150,806,in which diagnosed CP were 193 cases and the incidence of CP was 1.28‰. Among them, premature infants were 872 and diagnosed CP were 46,the incidence of CP was 52.75‰ in this group. While term laboring infants were 149,934 with CP 142 and the incidence of CP was 0.95‰. The difference between two groups was very significant(P<0.001).The shorter the gestational weeks were, the higher the incidence of the CP was. Among 46 premature infants with CP, there were 18 cases' mothers(26 person times) involved in abnormal pregnancy and delivery history, accounted for 39.1%, while 36 with pregnancy complications(78.3%). There were 23 cases (30 person times) suffered from the disease during neonate, accounted for 50%.ConclusionThe premature delivery is a risk factor associated with childhood CP.

Key words: premature infant, cerebral palsy, incidence, epidemiologic data