Crianças com fissuras labiopalatinas: aspectos subjetivos relacionados às crianças, mães e famílias

Abstract

Cleft lip and palate are congenital craniofacial malformations with multifactorial etiology, which leads to failure in the union of facial and/or palatal embryonic processes and can occur in different degrees of severity, with total or partial involvement of the lip, alveolar ridge and palate. Individuals with cleft lip and palate present a sequence of anatomical, aesthetic, functional (sucking, breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing) and dental changes, directly related to the extent and type of cleft. These functional and aesthetic changes interfere intensely in the lives of patients, bringing a psychological impact on the affected individual and with repercussions on parents and other family members. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different types of cleft lip and palate (CLP) on the oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and their families. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 161 parents/caregivers of children aged 0-3 years affected by CLP. Caregivers answered the B-ECOHIS, Parental Locus of Control (LCP) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression, with robust variance (p<0.05) were performed. Caregivers of children with cleft palate (CP) (p=0.009) and CLP (p=0.027) and who did not receive breastfeeding guidance were more likely to notice the child's difficulty in ingesting liquid foods. Caregivers of children older than 5 months (p=0.002), with PF (p=0.006) and FLP (p=0.016) were more likely to notice the child's difficulty in eating solid foods. Caregivers of children over 5 months of age perceived a greater likelihood of the child having difficulty pronouncing words (p=0.018); and mothers who did not receive breastfeeding guidance had a 1.73 times greater chance of their children becoming irritated due to the urge (p=0.044). Caregivers who have an external LCP were more likely to be absent from work (p=0.044). Those responsible who blame luck or chance for a given situation are less likely to have a financial impact (p<0.001). Having a cleft significantly reduces the OHRQoL of children, according to the perception of their parents/caregivers, just as having an external locus reduces the OHRQoL of their parents/caregivers.