Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common disorder of movement and posture in childhood, often accompanied by secondary challenges in cognition, epilepsy, and pain. Reports show that up to 75 % of all children with CP have pain, and that pain is often undertreated. Thus, pain has been considered a major challenge in care for children with CP since it influences health-related quality of life (HRQoL) negatively. The knowledge base on pain in children with CP is constantly increasing. Still, longitudinal studies on pain and HRQoL are scarce. Many different health care professions are involved in care for children with CP. Still, it is unknown if children with CP encounter a general practitioner (GP), or if they seek GP advice when in pain.Aims: The overall aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate pain and pain management in children with CP outside hospital. We investigated possible changes in pain, hip pain and HRQoL and relevant factors that could be associated with these variables, in a cohort of children, now youth with CP who were dependent on waking aid and who followed national CP surveillance program (Paper I-III). We also investigated if a diagnosis of CP in children ( 0-17 years) influenced the frequency of daytime contacts and consultations with a GP, and the frequency of pain as a reason for consultation (Paper IV). Methods: Papers I-III are based on a follow-up study with both cross-sectional and longitudinal design. All non-ambulatory children registered in Norwegian Quality and Surveillance Registry for Cerebral Palsy (NorCP) with bilateral CP, GMFCS levels III to V, born 2002-2006, living in South-Eastern Norway were invited to participate. Two identical data collections were performed five years apart, in childhood (7-12 years) and adolescence (12-17 years). One primary caregiver responded on behalf of each participant at both time points. Pain last four weeks was assessed using questions on pain frequency and intensity from Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), a body map to localize pain sites and two questions on pain interference with activities of daily living and sleep from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and an interview on pain, hip pain and the use of first-line analgesics. Hip displacement was measured on radiographs of the pelvis taken through NorCP. HRQoL was assessed using five of six CPCHILD domains. Paper IV is based on a registry study of GPs' daytime contacts available from the Norwegian Directorate of Health's database for the control and reimbursement of health expenses. All daytime contacts with regard 9 to type of contact and reason for encounter (RFE), in period 2006-2018 were analyzed for persons born in 1996 -2012. Linkage to NorCP identified children with CP. Comparison was performed between children registered in NorCP and children not registered in NorCP.Results: Papers I-III: Pain and hip pain were assessed twice in 67 children. The prevalence of recurrent pain, number of pain sites, pain intensity and frequency, and pain interference with activities of daily livin...