(P07-003-23) The Occurrence of Oro-Facial Clefts in Ghana, a National Priority for Policy Action

Objectives: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) affect approximately one in every 500 babies born in Ghana. The condition results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors including folate deficiency as a risk factor, and it can cause difficulties with feeding, speech, and breathing, as well as social and emotional challenges. Access to care for orofacial clefts can be limited in Ghana, particularly in rural areas. Treatment typically involves surgery and ongoing care from a team of healthcare professionals. Efforts are underway to improve access to care and support for affected families, but the cost of treatment and stigma surrounding birth defects continue to pose challenges. This study sought to assess the national prevalence of cleft lips and palate, the first of its kind in Ghana.

Methods: Data were sourced from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) of the Ghana Health Service, google scholar and PubMed searches as well as key-informant interviews. The ANOVA test was used to assess differences in OFC cases across the 16 regions over a 5-year period.

Results: The National OFC prevalence was 0.52, 0.39, 0.44, 0.51, and 0.53 cases per 1000 live births between 2017 to 2021. There were no significant differences in the number of cases over the years (p-value = 0.71) across the 16 regions (p-value = 0.48). This unchanging situation exposes the lack of national surveillance of the situation and the absence of specific policies to address the issue.

Conclusions: The prevalence of OFCs has not reduced over the years and this is an issue of public health concern. While there is no specific policy on orofacial clefts in Ghana, the government has taken steps to address the issue through the provision of cleft services and the implementation of a national health insurance scheme, and non-governmental organizations have also provided support, but more efforts are needed to increase awareness and education, improve access to care, and provide support for affected families.

Funding Sources: The BANGA Africa Project partially funded this research work.