Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent disease-causing physical disability in childhood. This study aimed to analyze prenatal and perinatal risk factors contributing to CP in Kurdish children.

Material and methods:
A case-control study was conducted in Duhok, north of Iraq. The cases of CP children 0-10 years old, born between 2011 and 2021, were collected from primary health care centers and the rehabilitation center. The controls were age- and sex-matched with normal neurologic development. Maternal characteristics and prenatal and postnatal factors were studied.

Results:
The study included 100 cases and 100 controls. Postnatal respiratory distress, infection acquired during labor, neonatal asphyxia, and maternal education were significantly different. The logistic regression showed the following variables as significant risk factors for CP: the use of drugs by mother, infections acquired during pregnancy and labor, intra uterine growth retardation, postnatal respiratory distress, asphyxia, consanguinity, a sibling with CP, maternal employment, maternal education, premature and prolonged rupture of membranes, parity, multiple pregnancies, smoking by the mother, meconium aspiration, delivery by emergency Cesarean section, delayed first cry, hemorrhage during late pregnancy, neonatal seizures, birth defects, need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation during labor, hypocalcemia and use of antibiotics during neonatal period.

Conclusions:
Various prenatal and perinatal factors were found to significantly predispose to CP.