Sammanfattning
The starting point for the study was that the specialised health-related contribution in relation to children with cleft lip/palate is experienced as being significant in terms of the children's well-being, measured in terms of the number of hospital days, consumption of breast milk, height and weight.
This hypothesis was examined in a prospective study of full-term infants with cleft lip/palate born in 2003 and 2004. The number of hospital days, consumption of breast milk, height and weight at birth, and at five- and twelve months, were recorded and compared with children born without malformations. The results showed that in the first year of life, children with cleft lip/palate were seen an average of six times by a consultant specialising in cleft lip/palate. The number of hospital days was comparable with other newborns. Children with cleft lip/palate received breast milk, but for a shorter period compared with other children. At birth, and at five and twelve months, children with cleft lip/palate were significantly taller than other children, whilst weight at all three measuring points was comparable.
Documented objective well-being in children with cleft lip/palate is thought-but due to the design of the study cannot be documented-to be related to the specialised input offered by the cleft lip/palate consultants to this group of children and their parents.