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National Health Care Network for children with oral clefts: organization, functioning, and preliminary outcomes
Agustina Cassinelli1, Nadia Pauselli2, Agustina Piola1
1Red Nacional de Anomalías Congénitas, Centro Nacional de Genética Médica (Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud -ANLIS-, Malbrán), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.
Insights
Argentina established a national oral clefts health care network in 2015. The network connects maternity centers with 61 accredited treatment facilities, aiming to improve care for affected newborns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Congenital Anomalies
- Health Care Networks
Background:
- Oral clefts are significant congenital anomalies affecting lip and/or palate, with an approximate prevalence of 15 per 10,000 births in Argentina.
- In 2015, Argentina's Ministry of Health launched a national health care network for children with oral clefts.
- This initiative involved collaboration with the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (RENAC) and the SUMAR Program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the structure of the newly established national health care network for oral clefts in Argentina.
- To report on the preliminary outcomes of this network in managing affected newborns.
Main Methods:
- Accreditation and identification of 61 centers providing comprehensive oral clefts treatment.
- Establishment of a network connecting maternity centers with treating centers through designated nodes.
- Data collection on newborn infants covered by the public health care system between March 2015 and February 2016.
Main Results:
- 550 newborn infants with oral clefts were identified within the public health system.
- Cleft lip and palate occurred in 62% of cases, cleft lip in 18%, and cleft palate only in 20%.
- 75% of cases were isolated oral clefts, while 25% were associated with other congenital anomalies.
Conclusions:
- Approximately 70% of children with oral clefts are being assessed and treated by certified institutions.
- The network aims to enhance data systematization and broaden center participation.
- Future goals include strengthening interdisciplinary teamwork and promoting high-quality treatment standards.
Introduction:
Oral clefts are major congenital anomalies that may affect the lip and/or palate, and that may also involve the nose and nostrils. In Argentina, their prevalence is approximately 15 per 10 000 births. In 2015, the Ministry of Health of Argentina created a national health care network for children with oral clefts in Argentina through the joint work with the National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (Red Nacional de Anomalías Congénitas, RENAC) (coordinating center for the national network) and the SUMAR Program. The objective of this study was to describe the health care network and its preliminary outcomes.
Population And Methods:
A total of 61 centers that provided a comprehensive treatment for oral clefts or in collaboration with other centers were identified and accredited. Maternity centers were connected with treating centers grouped in health care network nodes.
Results:
In the period between March 2015 and February 2016, 550 newborn infants who were exclusively covered by the public health care system were identified. Among these, 18% had a cleft lip; 62%, cleft lip and palate; and 20%, cleft palate only; 75% were isolated cases and 25%, in association with other congenital anomalies.
Conclusion:
Approximately 70% of children were assessed by a certified treating institution and are receiving treatment. The network seeks to improve data systematization, include the largest number of centers possible, strengthen interdisciplinary team work, and promote high-quality standards for treatments.
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