Socio-Demographic and Clinical Patterns of Cleft Lip and Palate  Patients

Deeshika  Yadav; Amrita  Gupta; Manisha Kamal  Kukreja; Rekha   Sharma; Vinni  Arora

doi:10.18502/jcr.v13i1.21478

Deeshika Yadav Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences (PGIDS), Rohtak–124001, Haryana, India
Amrita Gupta Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences (PGIDS), Rohtak– 124001, Haryana, India.
Manisha Kamal Kukreja Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences (PGIDS), Rohtak– 124001, Haryana, India.
Rekha Sharma Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences (PGIDS), Rohtak– 124001, Haryana, India.
Vinni Arora Civil Hospital, Bhiwani–127021, Haryana, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jcr.v13i1.21478

Keywords: Cleft lip; Cleft palate; Congenital abnormalities; Cross-sectional studies; Epidemiology.

Abstract

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies worldwide, with multifactorial aetiology influenced by genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Despite its significant public health burden in India, region-specific epidemiological data from tertiary care centres remain limited.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective observational study was conducted over one year at the Cleft Outpatient Department of PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana. All consenting patients diagnosed with cleft lip, cleft palate, or cleft lip and palate were included. Demographic details, parental characteristics, socioeconomic background, habits, family history, cleft type, laterality, and diagnostic grouping based on the Nagpur classification were recorded using a standardized proforma. Descriptive statistics were applied, and associations between diagnostic groups and selected variables were analysed using the Chi-square test at a 5% significance level.

Results: A total of 48 patients were evaluated, with equal gender distribution (50% males, 50% females). The mean paternal and maternal ages were 33.4 and 28.2 years, respectively. Most fathers were labourers or unemployed, while 91.7% of mothers were homemakers, reflecting a predominantly low socioeconomic background. Deleterious parental habits were present in 18.8% of cases, and a positive family history was observed in 8.1%. Left-sided cleft involvement was most common (64.3%). Chi-square analysis revealed no statistically significant association between diagnostic group and sex (p = 0.801), deleterious habits (p = 0.604), or family history (p = 0.576).

Conclusion: This study defines the local epidemiological and clinical profile of CLP patients at PGIMS Rohtak, demonstrating equal sex distribution, socioeconomic vulnerability, and predominance of left-sided clefts, with diagnostic patterns independent of major demographic and behavioural confounders.