Prevalence and antenatal determinants of orofacial clefts in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and antenatal determinants of orofacial clefts in Southern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study undertaken at the Maxillofacial Units of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria respectively. The prevalence and antenatal determinants of cleft lip and palate were determined. Result: Cleft lip and palate were often encountered in clinical practice in Benin City with a prevalence of 1.35%. The results showed that orofacial clefts were commoner in females and that the combined unilateral cleft lip and palate was the commonest entity encountered amongst the cases. The following risk factors were associated with the risk of development of cleft lip and palate: Paternal age >40years, maternal age >35years, genetic/family history, low socio-economic status, alcohol consumption and indulgence in the intake of herbal medications in pregnancy. Conclusion: Public health education programmes and advocacy activities geared towards raising awareness of the identified risk factors for the development of cleft lip and or cleft palate would go a long way to obviate the occurrence and reduce the burden.Key Words: Prevalence, Antenatal determinants, orofacial clefts, Southern Nigeri