Cerebral palsy is a pathological state characterized primarily with the damage to the motoric functioning which can be accompanied by the other disorders such as: sight and hearing problems, intellectual deficit, emotional problems, conduct disorders, speech disorders, epileptic seizures etc. Refugee crisis caused by the war that followed the breakdown of the former Yugoslavia make this situation significantly worse, so the number of those which on these areas, mainly from Croatia and B&H, were forced to leave their homes is around 2 millions. The aim of the study is to determine characteristics of health of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in the Sarajevo Canton, in displaced and refugees families and compare them with children with cerebral palsy in domicile families. Material and methods: The study which deals with health of children with cerebral palsy in displaced and refugees families in the Canton of Sarajevo is analytical, retrospective study. The sample consisted of 80 children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in the Sarajevo Canton, 23 (28,75 %) in displaced and refugees families, and 57 (71,25 %) children in domicile families, age from 6 up to 20 years. Those 23 families did not live in Sarajevo before the war 1992-1996. Statistical design includes descriptive overview in the tables and charts, and calculation of the statistical significance of the differences of three subgroups. Results: From 23 families of children with cerebral palsy, 5 (21,74 %) are refugees families and 18 (78,26 %) are displaced families from other towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 23 displaced and refugees families of children with cerebral palsy, 9 (11.25 %) children are left at home, 10 (12.5 %) children attend special schools and 4 (5 %) attend regular schools. From 57 (71.25 %) domicile families, 25 (31.25 %) are at home, 17 (21.25 %) attend special schools and 15 (18.75 %) attend regular schools. Discussion: In this Study, of 23 displaced and refugees families of children with cerebral palsy, 10 children were born before war time, 8 (5 boys and 3 girls) during war time, and 5 after war time. Conclusions: From 23 displaced and refugees families, 5 children have severe intellectual disability, 5 children have moderate intellectual disability, 7 have mild intellectual disability, 3 borderline intellectual disability, and 3 have normal intellectual abilities. There is a significant difference among the groups, X2=10.376 p=0.024 Of 23 displaced and refugees families, 9 children have epilepsy, and 14 don't. There is a significant difference between the groups, X2=4.463 p=0.0107. Lack of unique database indicates poor network among re/habilitation and education Institutions and Associations in the Canton of Sarajevo. War psycho trauma of pregnant women is present as possible prenatal etiological factor of cerebral palsy.

Health War Cerebral palsy Displaced/refugees families

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