Cleft deformities in Zimbabwe, Africa: socioeconomic factors, epidemiology, and surgical reconstruction
Annette M Pham 1 , Travis T Tollefson
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PMID: 17954508 DOI: 10.1001/archfaci.9.6.qsp70001
Abstract
In the African country of Zimbabwe, a variety of socioeconomic factors have contributed to a lack of specialty care and resources for the indigent population. Although cleft lip and palate has a lower incidence in Africa (0.67 per 1000 births) than in Latin America or Asia, access to reconstructive surgery is often difficult to obtain. A surgical team worked with Zimbabweans at the Harare Central Hospital, Harare, to perform cleft surgery for 39 patients. We review the epidemiology of cleft deformities in Africa, our experience with 39 patients with cleft lip and palate, and the techniques used to address 2 patients with midfacial clefts. To our knowledge, this retrospective case review and epidemiologic literature review is the first review of cleft care in Zimbabwe. Read more at the National Library of Medicine.
