Study of Cleft Lip and Palate in Tribal Areas of Gujarat

Cleft of lip, hard and soft palate are the most common congenital abnormalities of the craniofacial structure. Worldwide incidence of cleft lip and palate is 1 in 600. The overall worldwide prevalence of cleft lip with or without the cleft of palate is 9.92 per 10,000. The prevalence of cleft lip is 3.28 per 10,000, and that of the cleft lip and palate together is 6.64 per 10,000. Gujarat having population of 6 crore, the incidence of cleft lip and palate disease is 2500 per year. Inequalities exist, both in access to and qualities of cleft care with distinct differences among urban versus rural areas. Due to this inequality along with lack of awareness had lead to the accumulation of untreated clefts of the lip and palate leading to a significant health care problem in India. The study focuses on incidence of cleft lip and palate with its different types, Rural and Urban difference, Age of surgery (ideal vs presentation age in rural and urban population), Complications and sequel of treated and untreated patient. Patient taking multidisciplinary approach that is going to speech therapist, orthodontist, etc. This is one of the largest study in tribal population of India.