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Having given birth among women with cerebral palsy : A Swedish population-based study

Linder, Anna LU ; Kolak, Mia LU orcid ; Asgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey ; Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann I LU and Jarl, Johan LU orcid (2026) In Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 50.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong, early-onset disability characterized by heterogeneous functional impairments and comorbidities that may influence reproductive outcomes. Population-based evidence on having given birth among women with CP remains limited. We investigated differences in having given birth between women with CP and matched controls, and assessed the role of disability-related characteristics, comorbidities, sociodemographic, and contextual factors.

METHODS: In this population-based study, 4832 women with CP aged 15-49 years during the study period (2010-2023) were compared with 24,018 age- and municipality-matched controls. Childbirth data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register were linked to national... (More)

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong, early-onset disability characterized by heterogeneous functional impairments and comorbidities that may influence reproductive outcomes. Population-based evidence on having given birth among women with CP remains limited. We investigated differences in having given birth between women with CP and matched controls, and assessed the role of disability-related characteristics, comorbidities, sociodemographic, and contextual factors.

METHODS: In this population-based study, 4832 women with CP aged 15-49 years during the study period (2010-2023) were compared with 24,018 age- and municipality-matched controls. Childbirth data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register were linked to national health and demographic registers. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Women with CP had substantially lower odds of having given birth during the study period than controls (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.24-0.29). Among women with CP, lower odds were observed in those with spastic bilateral, dyskinetic, and ataxic CP, gross motor function corresponding to GMFCS IV-V, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Associations with sociodemographic and contextual factors did not differ significantly between women with and without CP.

CONCLUSIONS: Women with CP were markedly less likely to have given birth during the study period, with substantial variation according to disability-related characteristics and comorbidities. Nevertheless, women across different disability-related profiles had given birth. These population-level findings highlight both the disparity between women with and without CP and the heterogeneity among women with CP and provide a basis for further research into reproductive opportunities, barriers, and support needs.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
volume
50
article number
101277
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:42731422
ISSN
1877-5764
DOI
10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101277
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
id
09f7c5a4-b514-41ae-be4f-5399d06e62ee
date added to LUP
2026-09-14 09:07:05
date last changed
2026-09-14 09:10:20
@article{09f7c5a4-b514-41ae-be4f-5399d06e62ee,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong, early-onset disability characterized by heterogeneous functional impairments and comorbidities that may influence reproductive outcomes. Population-based evidence on having given birth among women with CP remains limited. We investigated differences in having given birth between women with CP and matched controls, and assessed the role of disability-related characteristics, comorbidities, sociodemographic, and contextual factors.</p><p>METHODS: In this population-based study, 4832 women with CP aged 15-49 years during the study period (2010-2023) were compared with 24,018 age- and municipality-matched controls. Childbirth data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register were linked to national health and demographic registers. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p>RESULTS: Women with CP had substantially lower odds of having given birth during the study period than controls (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.24-0.29). Among women with CP, lower odds were observed in those with spastic bilateral, dyskinetic, and ataxic CP, gross motor function corresponding to GMFCS IV-V, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Associations with sociodemographic and contextual factors did not differ significantly between women with and without CP.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Women with CP were markedly less likely to have given birth during the study period, with substantial variation according to disability-related characteristics and comorbidities. Nevertheless, women across different disability-related profiles had given birth. These population-level findings highlight both the disparity between women with and without CP and the heterogeneity among women with CP and provide a basis for further research into reproductive opportunities, barriers, and support needs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Linder, Anna and Kolak, Mia and Asgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey and Alriksson-Schmidt, Ann I and Jarl, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1877-5764}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare}},
  title        = {{Having given birth among women with cerebral palsy : A Swedish population-based study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101277}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101277}},
  volume       = {{50}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}