Abstract

An epidemiologic study of children’s prevalence born with cleft lip and/or palate in the Amaury de Medeiros Integrated Health Center (CISAM) maternity unit, between January 1998 and December 2008. Variables instructed are prematurity, APGAR index, type of cleft, other associated anomalies besides clefts, mother’s age, occurrence of infection in mother and use of drugs during pregnancy. Descriptive analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 13.0 and student's t-test. Of the total children’s sample, 44% had been born prematurely; males were most affected (64%); 56% exhibited a normal APGAR index; 56% did not show any additional anatomical abnormalities; 56% of mothers used both licit and/or illicit drugs; complete cleft lip and palate showed the highest incidence (32%), and unilateral cleft was present in 92%. The mothers’ mean age was 24.6 years and 48% had some infection during pregnancy. Complete cleft lip and palate was the most common malformation observed in this study. Males were most affected. Associations with other abnormalities were considered syndromes. Mothers’ age showed no relation with cleft occurrence, though diseases such as syphilis and rubella, as well as drug usage, did show an influence in clefts occurrence.

Key words: Cleft lip, palate, leporine lip, epidemiology.