Cleft lip and palate in Jordan: birth prevalence rate

F Al Omari1, I K Al-Omari

  • 1Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.

Insights

The prevalence of oral clefts in Jordanian children from 1991-2001 was 1.39 per 1000 live births, with combined cleft lip and palate being most common. This rate is comparable to Caucasian populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric surgery
  • Craniofacial anomalies
  • Public health epidemiology

Background:

  • Orofacial clefts are common congenital anomalies with significant health implications.
  • Understanding regional prevalence is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of oral clefts in Jordanian children born between 1991 and 2001.
  • To analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of these cases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of hospital surgical records from two primary sources.
  • Data collection included birth date, sex, cleft type, and associated anomalies/syndromes.

Main Results:

  • Overall prevalence of oral clefts was 1.39 per 1000 live births.
  • Cleft lip and palate (48%) was the most frequent type, followed by cleft lip (30%) and cleft palate (22%).
  • Higher prevalence observed in males (55%) vs. females (45%), with isolated cleft palate more common in females. 18% had associated anomalies/syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence rate of orofacial clefts in Jordan is similar to that reported for white Caucasians.
  • Findings provide valuable epidemiological data for Jordanian public health initiatives concerning congenital anomalies.
Abstract