Different culture and socioeconomic possibly influence the level of participation, while limited information was available in developing countries. The study aims to explore participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Thailand and factors associated with the frequency of participation.

A survey descriptive research was done in 80 children with CP, aged 6–18 years, who visited outpatient clinics of a university hospital in Thailand. Family caregivers reported Thai-version questionnaires: the frequency of participation (FPQ), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS-ER), attitude of caregivers and socioeconomic information. Disease severity and comorbidities were reviewed. Factors were analyzed for the association with the frequency of participation.

Children with CP, a mean age 9.7 (SD 3.3) years and 46 (57.5%) males were participated. Most subjects were spastic (88.8%) and quadriplegic (41.2%) types. Various levels of motor function were included: GMFCS level I-8 (10%), II-27 (33.8%), III-6 (7.5%), IV-13 (16.2%), V-26 (32.5%). Within 14 activities, the most-frequently-participated activity was “helping with housework” that 59 (73.8%) children with CP participated in a few times/week, followed by going to shops (41.3%) and riding bike (36.3%). The least-participated activity was “taking part in community activities”, 32 (40%) children had never participated in, even though the attitude of almost caregivers (96.3%) was good. The multivariate analysis found that better GMFCS level (P=0.014) and communication ability (P=0.015) significantly correlated with higher frequency of participation. The children with positive family income more frequently participated in leisure activities (P=0.031) and art/cultural events (P=0.018).

Thai children with CP tended to participate more frequently in family activities such as housework, shopping and riding bike, whereas rarely participated in community activities. Participation in leisure activity and art/cultural events, which seemed to need free time and money associated with family income. The children with higher level of motor function and communication ability had higher frequency of participation in everyday activities.