The impact of demographic factors on the possibility of cleft lip and palate occurrence

Abstract

Introduction: Lip and palate clefts (cheilognathopal atoschisis) are very severe congenital anomalies. Aim: To examine the impact of demographic factors in the first pregnancy trimester on the occurrence of lip and palate cleft. Subjects and Methods: Children born in the period between March 1999 to December 2003, as well as their parents were included in the study. The study group consisted of 96 children with cleft lip and palate treated at the Gynecology - Obstetrics clinics of the Clinical Center in Nis (Neonatology ward), VMA (Military Medical Academy) Belgrade (Institute for plastic surgery), Mother and Child Institute - Novi Beograd and University children's Clinic, Belgrade. The control group comprised 142 healthy children. The examination was carried out using two questionnaires. One was for mothers and consisted of 41 questions related to the first pregnancy trimester. The other questionnaire was filled in by fathers and had 16 questions also related to the period of the first trimester of their wives' pregnancies. Results: The results showed that unilateral lip and palate cleft occurred in the same percentage in boys and girls (53.1%). Isolated palate cleft was more frequently found in boys, and unilateral lip cleft in girls. Statistically higher possibility for lip and palate cleft was found in the third child. The age of mothers in the time of conception does not represent risk factor for the cleft occurrence. Mothers who gave birth to children with clefts were younger (26.4 years old) than mothers in control group (28.4 years old). Conclusion: There is a need for constant education of women on risk factors that they can be exposed to during pregnancy. .