Objective Our aim is to investigate the prevalence of CP and to determine if it is influenced by the progress of perinatal and neonatal intensive care at our Department.

Patients and Methods Data regarding live births at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics during the period from 1992 to 2001 were collected. Studied period was divided into period I (1992–1996) and period II (1997–2001). CP was evaluated according to gestational age (GA), defined as preterm (PT) (GA 22–36 weeks) and term (T) (GA>37 weeks). Prevalence of CP was calculated for the whole study period, as well as periods I and II. Children were followed up for a minimum of five years and CP was diagnosed according to international criteria.

Results There were 31,523 live births at studied period, PT 1658 and T 29,838.

CP was diagnosed in 62 children, 50 PT and 12 T children. The prevalence of CP during the study period was 1.96/1000, with no significant difference between period I and II (1.92 vs 1.99 per 1000). Prevalence in PT children was 29.67/1000 and 0.40/1000 in T children. In the period I prevalence of CP in T children was 0.49/1000, but was significantly decreased during the period II – 0.29/1000. By contrast, prevalence of CP in PT children in the period I was 26.6/1000, but was increased in period II – 33.6/1000.

Conclusion The prevalence of CP increased significantly with decreased GA, which can be explained by increased survival of preterm infants.