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Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Quantification of Orofacial Phenotypes in Xenopus
Published on: November 6, 2014
Time series analysis of births of children with orofacial clefts
1Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Medical Center Zaloska, Ljubljana. vesna.kozelj@mf.uni-lj.si
Insights
Children with orofacial clefts appear to be born in clusters, not randomly. This study analyzed birth data from 1972-1997, revealing non-random patterns in cleft births.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric epidemiology
- Genetics and developmental biology
Background:
- Orofacial clefts are common congenital anomalies.
- Previous observations suggested non-random birth patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically analyze temporal patterns in births of children with orofacial clefts.
- To determine if births of children with clefts are random or clustered events.
Main Methods:
- Time series analysis of birth data from 1972 to 1997 (n=1112).
- Diagnostic checking for stationarity using the Box-Ljung test.
- Autocorrelation function analysis to identify temporal clustering.
Main Results:
- The time series of births was found to be stationary.
- Analysis confirmed significant clustering of births for children with orofacial clefts.
- Intervals between clusters varied in duration, indicating non-randomness.
Conclusions:
- Births of children with orofacial clefts are not random or independent events.
- The observed clustering suggests underlying environmental or genetic factors influencing birth timing.
- Further research is warranted to identify the causes of these birth patterns.
Abstract:
Observation of the dates when children with orofacial clefts were born, gives the impression that they were born in clusters, between which there were intervals of different duration. An analysis was therefore undertaken of the period between 1972 to 1997 when 1112 such children were born. For diagnostic checking of stationarity of the time series the Box-Ljung test was used. Since it was found that the time series was stationary, analysis of autocorrelation function was performed. The results confirmed the impression that children with clefts are born in clusters, between which there are gaps of different duration. This suggests that the birth of a child with a cleft is not a random and independent event.
