Prevalence of cleft lip and palate in a hospital-based population in the Sudan

Cleft lip and palate represents one of the most common developmental deformities seen in oral surgery clinics. It is usually associated with problems which include not only cosmetic and dental abnormalities, but also speech, hearing and facial growth difficulties. Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of cleft lip and palate in births taking place in hospitals in the Sudan. Methods. The records of 15 890 Sudanese new‐borns delivered at three hospitals during the period from 1997 to 2000 were examined. Results. Thirteen cases of cleft lip and palate were found, demonstrating a prevalence of 0·9 per 1000. There were more girls than boys, with a male:female ratio of 3:10. Fifty‐four per cent of the cases had cleft lip with cleft palate, 30% had only cleft palate and the remaining 16% had cleft lip alone. Conclusions. The present study was confined to hospital‐based births in one city, and the true incidence of cleft lip and/or palate in the Sudan is not yet known. Findings differ from reports from other countries in terms of suggesting a higher incidence in girls.