Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Orthodontics

Objectives: 1. Determine the incidence of cleft lip and/or palate defects in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and New Valley governorates in the Arab Republic of Egypt. 2. Report gender and cleft type distribution in the four mentioned governorates. 3. Investigate etiological risk factors that may be associated with cleft lip and /or palate defects. 4. Compare the incidence of cleft defects, cleft types distribution and risk factors among the four governorates. Materials and methods: Before the initiation of the project, the Ministry of Health endorsed the maternity staff members which included the doctors and the nursing staff who will be participating in the program from every governorate to attend a one day course in the Faculty of oral and dental medicine {u2013} Cairo University . The course was conducted at the orthodontic department {u2013} Cairo University on how to detect, diagnose and classify the newly born cleft babies. The participants were trained how to fill in the diagnostic sheet and the diagrammatic sheet representing the classification of cleft lip/palate used in the study. At the end of that day, a small test was given to evaluate the ability of the staff to diagnose the cleft cases. Handouts and CDs were distributed for each participant to be as a resource or reference for any missing information. Diagnostic files containing ten diagnostic sheets and the diagrammatic representation of the classification of CL±P were provided for each medical unit, health care facility and main governmental hospital, each sheet having a sequential serial number for registering personal, familial, medical history and any predisposing factors for each newly born cleft baby. Data was monitored and collected monthly from all medical units and health care facilities in each governorate till the end of the year 2013. At the beginning of each month, the coordinator visited all the units to collect data of the affected live births of the previous month. A personal visit was performed to collect data and to keep in contact with the nurses and. These visits provided feedback about previously detected babies to stimulate interest and commitment from staff members

Issued also as CD