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Children with cleft lip and/or palate face psychosocial challenges like discrimination and emotional issues. Nurses must address these issues, recognizing their own potential biases towards these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Nursing Care
Background:
- Children with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) experience unique challenges impacting psychosocial adjustment.
- Facial disfigurement, speech impairment, and learning difficulties associated with CLP can lead to societal disapproval and discrimination.
- A developmental perspective is crucial for understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of these children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review potential psychosocial problems in children with CLP from a developmental viewpoint.
- To offer guidance on the role of nurses in supporting children with CLP at different developmental stages.
- To highlight the potential for nurses to hold biases and exhibit subtle discrimination.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on psychosocial development in children with CLP.
- Analysis of developmental stages and associated psychosocial risks.
- Examination of the nursing role and potential attitudinal barriers.
Main Results:
- Children with CLP are at significant risk for emotional adjustment difficulties and social discrimination.
- Nurses, like the general population, may harbor biases affecting care.
- Subtle discrimination by healthcare providers can exacerbate existing psychosocial problems.
Conclusions:
- Nurses play a vital role in mitigating psychosocial risks for children with CLP.
- Awareness of personal biases and targeted interventions are essential for equitable nursing care.
- A developmental approach ensures comprehensive support throughout childhood and adolescence.
Abstract:
Children with cleft lip and/or palate are at risk for societal disapproval and/or discrimination and emotional adjustment problems due to facial disfigurement, speech impairment, and learning difficulties. This article reviews the potential psychosocial problems from a developmental perspective and offers suggestions as to the role of nurses at each developmental stage. Nurses may be prone to the same negative attitudes and biases as the general population and may engage in subtle discrimination against children with cleft lip and/or palate.