Families’ awareness and attitudes towards children with cleft lip and palate in the northern provinces of Vietnam

Introduction: In Vietnam, awareness from families and society towards children born with cleft lip and palate (CLP) is still lacking. Knowledge and attitude of families towards CLP could help fight against negative beliefs and preconceptions about CLP.

Objectives: To assess the awareness of families with children with CLP in the northern region of Vietnam, who were diagnosed and received treatment at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology.

Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a convenient sampling method of 196 patients who were diagnosed with CLP at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology from October 2019 to October 2021. Children, their families, or guardians participating in the study were interviewed using a pre-built questionnaire.

Results:Nearly 90% of parents observed the community's acceptance of their children with CLP. Families received support and management from the government for children with CLP through direct counselling (64.2%), and dialing (45.9%). However, most respondents felt shocked, anxious, and painful when there was a child with CLP in their family. Most families' awareness of childcare methods was relatively limited: About 58-60% parents found their children with CLP had major difficulties in eating and drinking, but 26% reported they did not help their children in that regard. Nearly two-thirds of parents had no knowledge about childcare devices, more than one-fifth knew about these devices but chose not to use them whilst the rest had known and used these devices. The parents knew the symptoms of pneumonia and nasopharyngitis that children with CLP could experience, and also knew some appropriate prevention measures. However, parents’ knowledge about psychological factors such as intellectual disability and poor social integration only ranged from 1-2%. Percentage of parents who were not aware of the conditions to be fulfilled before surgery for children with CLP was 56.6%. Only 18.9% of children were diagnosed and received treatment early (before 6 months of age).

Conclusions: The awareness of families of children with CLP in the northern region of Vietnam, who were diagnosed and received treatment at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, was inadequate.

Sri Lanka Journal of Health, 2023; 52(1): 66-74