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Global variation in cleft palate repairs: an analysis of 352,191 primary cleft repairs in low- to higher-middle-income countries

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Organization
Abstract
Objectives: Resources for repair of cleft lip and palate may be lacking in low- and middleincome countries. The Smile Train is a registered charity that supports cleft repair in resource-poor settings. In the global health care challenge, it has been suggested that many babies born with cleft palates are not repaired. This study aims to determine whether any variation exists in the proportion of cleft lip and cleft palate repairs undertaken in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: Data were obtained from the Smile Train database of 352,191 consecutive cleft operations performed between 2008 and 2011 in low- to higher-middle-income countries. The ratio of cleft lip to palate repair was analyzed as a function of geographic region and by country income (gross national income). Results: A significant correlation exists between both the income of a country and its geographical region to the ratio of lip and palate repair procedures undertaken. Higher-income countries had a higher ratio of cleft palate repairs. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have the lowest proportion of cleft palate repairs. Conclusion: This study emphasizes that many babies born with cleft palates in resource-poor regions do not have their palates repaired. This finding may be explained by an increased neonatal mortality in cleft palate babies. Furthermore, fewer isolated palatal clefts may present to an appropriate health care facility or there may be a reluctance to treat cleft palate due to concerns regarding higher perioperative risks or the lack of available surgical and anesthetic expertise.
Keywords
neonatal mortality, resource-poor economy, Smile Train, cleft lip, developing world, cleft palate, PREVALENCE, BIRTH-DEFECTS, LIP, OROFACIAL CLEFTS, SURGERY, TIME

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MLA
Cubitt, Jonathan J., et al. “Global Variation in Cleft Palate Repairs: An Analysis of 352,191 Primary Cleft Repairs in Low- to Higher-Middle-Income Countries.” CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL, vol. 51, no. 5, 2014, pp. 553–56, doi:10.1597/12-270.
APA
Cubitt, J. J., Hodges, A. M., Van Lierde, K., & Swan, M. C. (2014). Global variation in cleft palate repairs: an analysis of 352,191 primary cleft repairs in low- to higher-middle-income countries. CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL, 51(5), 553–556. https://doi.org/10.1597/12-270
Chicago author-date
Cubitt, Jonathan J, Andrew M Hodges, Kristiane Van Lierde, and Marc C Swan. 2014. “Global Variation in Cleft Palate Repairs: An Analysis of 352,191 Primary Cleft Repairs in Low- to Higher-Middle-Income Countries.” CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL 51 (5): 553–56. https://doi.org/10.1597/12-270.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Cubitt, Jonathan J, Andrew M Hodges, Kristiane Van Lierde, and Marc C Swan. 2014. “Global Variation in Cleft Palate Repairs: An Analysis of 352,191 Primary Cleft Repairs in Low- to Higher-Middle-Income Countries.” CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL 51 (5): 553–556. doi:10.1597/12-270.
Vancouver
1.
Cubitt JJ, Hodges AM, Van Lierde K, Swan MC. Global variation in cleft palate repairs: an analysis of 352,191 primary cleft repairs in low- to higher-middle-income countries. CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL. 2014;51(5):553–6.
IEEE
[1]
J. J. Cubitt, A. M. Hodges, K. Van Lierde, and M. C. Swan, “Global variation in cleft palate repairs: an analysis of 352,191 primary cleft repairs in low- to higher-middle-income countries,” CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL, vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 553–556, 2014.
@article{5694525,
  abstract     = {{Objectives: Resources for repair of cleft lip and palate may be lacking in low- and middleincome countries. The Smile Train is a registered charity that supports cleft repair in resource-poor settings. In the global health care challenge, it has been suggested that many babies born with cleft palates are not repaired. This study aims to determine whether any variation exists in the proportion of cleft lip and cleft palate repairs undertaken in low- and middle-income countries.
Methods: Data were obtained from the Smile Train database of 352,191 consecutive cleft operations performed between 2008 and 2011 in low- to higher-middle-income countries. The ratio of cleft lip to palate repair was analyzed as a function of geographic region and by country income (gross national income).
Results: A significant correlation exists between both the income of a country and its geographical region to the ratio of lip and palate repair procedures undertaken. Higher-income countries had a higher ratio of cleft palate repairs. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have the lowest proportion of cleft palate repairs.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes that many babies born with cleft palates in resource-poor regions do not have their palates repaired. This finding may be explained by an increased neonatal mortality in cleft palate babies. Furthermore, fewer isolated palatal clefts may present to an appropriate health care facility or there may be a reluctance to treat cleft palate due to concerns regarding higher perioperative risks or the lack of available surgical and anesthetic expertise.}},
  author       = {{Cubitt, Jonathan J and Hodges, Andrew M and Van Lierde, Kristiane and Swan, Marc C}},
  issn         = {{1545-1569}},
  journal      = {{CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL JOURNAL}},
  keywords     = {{neonatal mortality,resource-poor economy,Smile Train,cleft lip,developing world,cleft palate,PREVALENCE,BIRTH-DEFECTS,LIP,OROFACIAL CLEFTS,SURGERY,TIME}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{553--556}},
  title        = {{Global variation in cleft palate repairs: an analysis of 352,191 primary cleft repairs in low- to higher-middle-income countries}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1597/12-270}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}

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