ABSTRACT

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects of complex etiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of cleft lip and palate in Brazilian children. An ecological and descriptive study, based on data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC / DATASUS) between years 2011 and 2015 in the cities of João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Patos, Cajazeiras, and Sousa (State of Paraíba) was developed. Information on the presence of congenital anomalies and cleft lip and palate, gender of neonate, birth-weight (<2.5kg and ≥2.5kg) and mother's age were collected. Data were tabulated with Microsoft Excel software and presented through descriptive statistics (absolute and percentage distributions). In the study period, there were 206367 cases of live birth, with 1916 cases of children with congenital anomalies of which 109 (5.7%) had cleft lip and palate, predominantly males (66%). Regarding birth-weight, 27.5% had <2.5kg. The majority of mothers aged 20-29 years (45.9%). The city of Campina Grande concentrated the highest number of cases (50.5%), with prevalence of 7.36 cases per ten thousand live births. The frequency of cleft lip and palate was 5.2 per 10000 live births. Male children with normal birth-weight are the most affected by cleft lip and palate.

KEY WORDS: Epidemiology; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Congenital Abnormalities