PREVALENCE OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE IN GEORGIA

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cleft lip and palate are significant congenital malformations.
• Understanding their epidemiological patterns is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiological peculiarities of cleft lip and palate in Georgia between 2006-2015.
• To compare current prevalence with historical data from 1981-1990.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective epidemiological study.
• Analysis of congenital malformation data in Georgia.
• Comparison of prevalence rates between two distinct time periods (1981-1990 and 2006-2015).

Main Results:

• Prevalence of cleft lip and palate in Georgia (2006-2015) was 0.95±0.04 per 1000 live births, a decrease from 1.05 in 1981-1990.
• Significant regional variations observed, with Mtskheta-Mtianeti showing the highest prevalence (2.28/1000) and Guria the lowest (0.56/1000).
• Cleft lip with palate (39.8%) is the most common anomaly, followed by cleft lip alone (36.1%) and cleft palate (24.1%). The conditions are more frequent in males (60.3%) than females (39.7%).

Conclusions:

• The study highlights specific epidemiological characteristics of cleft lip and palate in Georgia.
• A decrease in overall prevalence was noted compared to previous decades.
• Regional disparities and higher incidence in males underscore the need for targeted preventive strategies.