Effects of socioeconomic factors on the incidence and pattern of oro-facial cleft

Abstract EN

The a etiology of or facial clefts remains unknown and investigated by many researchers worldwide; it’s a multifactorial in origin.

The lists of the causes continue to grow longer, but are all the causes applicable to Basrah? During the years the number of cases continues to increase.

In comparing two periods within ten years, the findings showed a lot of changes with increased incidence and change of pattern of presentation.

The increase in incidence cannot be explained by increase in birth rate only.

The change in the birth rate between the two periods is 1.6 times but the change in the number of cases is 3.2 times and the change in the prevalence is two times.

The type of cleft show different change in number, Cleft lip without palate (CL-P) rise by 2.3 times, Cleft lip and palate (CL+P) by 1.25, but Cleft palate (CP) show rise by 6 times.

The male to female ratio increased by 0.2 with male predominance.

Left cleft lips are predominant in both periods but with slight change in percentage.

In first period, the left cleft lip with palate is the predominant feature while in second period it’s the left cleft lip without palate.

Unilateral cleft form the bulk of the cleft cases, in first period it's associated with palate but in second period it's isolated.

The pattern of presentation has been changed, from combined cleft to isolated cleft lip and isolated cleft palate.

Is it a change in gene penetration?