Facilitating Cleft Palate Team Participation of Culturally Diverse Families in South Africa

Abstract

The Facial Cleft Deformities Clinic, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, provides interdisciplinary team services to patients with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies. They represent the "rainbow nation" of South Africa and reflect the multicultural and multilingual nature of the population, which poses a challenge to effective and accountable service delivery. The aim of this study was to explore some cultural variations that exist in black families that influence their participation in the team approach and to describe the assets of families that may be used to empower them and to enhance service delivery. A descriptive survey research design. A questionnaire-by-interview procedure was utilized during routine visits of 35 black families to the Facial Cleft Deformities Clinic. The results are discussed from an ethnographic perspective of the family and describe the knowledge base of the participants, the diagnosis and treatment of the children's cleft lip and palate, family structure and support systems, family income and education, and the geographical distribution of the participants. Implications for building family partnerships and for improving professionals' cultural competence in order to improve the quality of service delivery are presented. By viewing cultural differences on a continuum, following the asset-based approach, applying knowledge based on contextually relevant research, and recognizing family uniqueness, families may be empowered to participate fully in the team approach to support their children with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies in attaining their full potential in the South African context.