A clinical and demographic profile of the cleft lip and palate in Sub-Himalayan India: A hospital-based study

Abstract

Objectives:To study the cleft lip and cleft palate in the poverty stricken Sub-Himalayan Garhwal region of India, being a commonly seen congenital abnormality and scarcity of studies about the demography of cleft in this region.Design:A prospective cohort observational case series was performed on 4657 cleft patients at a Tertiary care Hospital in Dehradun, India, over a period of 5 years.Outcome measures:The authors investigated the differences between age and sex with cleft status and family history of clefts, birth order, religion, socioeconomic status, parent literacy, source of information for treatment, haematological investigations showing the status of infection and coagulation in such children and satisfaction after treatment.Results:Seventy-two percent parents of cleft lip patients were illiterate, and only 8% were graduates, the majority of patients were from the low socioeconomic class. The siblings of 1.1% of the cleft patients had similar deformity. Anemia was seen in 83.16% cases which was commonly microcytic hypochromic type and eosinophilia was seen in 25.50% of cases. In the coagulation profile, International Nationalized Ratio was found to be raised in 52.12%. Almost 95% of the families were fully satisfied by the treatment and results.Conclusion:This study will provide baseline information on the status of these less privileged cleft patients in this mountainous region for future reference to health workers.

The relationship between orofacial clefts and consanguineous marriages: A hospital register-based study in Dharwad, South India

“…Studies have reported that consanguinity is commonly practiced by people who are illiterate and from low socioeconomic status and other related factors. [5,10,24] Rural areas show higher rates of illiteracy and low socioeconomic status in India. [25] Despite the several negative consequences of the practice ranging from neonatal mortality to congenital anomalies with genetic mutations, consanguinity also offers certain social advantages seen in rural areas such as ease of enhanced female autonomy, marriage arrangements, more stable marital relationships, lower domestic violence, greater compatibility with in-laws, economic benefits of reduced dowry, lower divorce rates and maintenance of any landholding.…”

“…[10,22,26] The OFC common in Hindus was again in harmony with results reported by Dvivedi and Dvivedi. [24] The Hindu Code Bill of 1984 and the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 support the legality of consanguineous marriages in India. [7] The high prevalence rate in the Hindu religion is in proportion to the national population, which is about 80.5% according to 2011 census.…”

Epidemiological Profile of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka–A Hospital Based Study

“…Incidence and prevalence of CL±P are 1 in 600 (1:600) and 9.92 per 10,000 worldwide respectively. The CL and CLP prevalence are 3.28 per 10,000 & 6.64 per 10,000 [3]. In India, the number of infants born with CL±P is 28,600 per year (i.e.…”

“…A family history of the CLP has increased risk for development of CLP; while in CP, the risk is the same as a general population [5] Organizations like the Smile Train is working for the welfare of the CL±P patients worldwide [6]. The problem that CL±P deformity poses in India is different from the developed countries because of poverty and illiteracy [3]. Understanding variation of prevalence, region, nutrition, socioeconomic strata and ethnicity wise distribution will help to plan future course of action to improve cleft care.…”

Epidemiology of Cleft Lip and Palate and Rare Facial Clefts in Upper Assam: A Hospital Based Study

“…For all such children, the problem goes beyond the obvious disfigurement of the face to repeated infections, social stigma, problems with speech, hearing, and teeth formation. (3) These children are often teased by their friends and they lose self-confidence. They suffer with emotional "burn out" in adolescence.…”