Maternal stress, superstition and communicative behaviour with Nigerian cleft lip and palate children

This study examines, through video recordings and interviews, superstitions held by families of children with cleft lip and palates (CLP) and the mothers' communicative relationship with them. 10 CLP children, 10 non-cleft (NC) children and their mothers, were the subjects. Evil spirits were cited as the dominant cause of the cleft. Husbands or the extended family blamed the mother for the defect in 70% of the homes. Negative family support was evident in 6 of the families. Mothers of CLP children were indulgent with them, but afforded them less autonomy than did mothers of NC children. There was also more linguistic sensitivity between mother and CLP child than within the control group, perhaps facilitating language development in the CLP children. Mothers were, however, withdrawn in relation to children with unrepaired cleft lips. Family education and counselling were recommended.