Satisfaction amongst parents/guardians of children with cleft lip after repair at komfo anokye teaching hospital

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts are a group of congenital deformities commonly presenting as cleft lip with or without cleft palate or solitary cleft palate. Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is one of the world’s most frequent congenital birth abnormalities. It is estimated that 400 babies are born with orofacial cleft in Ghana every year.AIM: This study aimed to assess the level of satisfaction amongst parents/guardians of children who underwent cleft lip repair at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the effect of cleft lip repair on their psychosocial status.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected from 73 parents/guardians of children who underwent cleft lip repair at KATH. The survey assessed parental satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome, the impact of the procedure on social interactions and family dynamics, and the overall psychosocial effect of cleft lip repair using the modified Cleft Evaluation Profile. The data was captured in Excel and analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0.RESULTS: The majority of parents/guardians expressed overall satisfaction with the outcomes of cleft lip repair, with 67.1% reporting that the appearance of the lip was “Very satisfactory.” However, there were concerns regarding other facial features, such as teeth (21.9% unsatisfactory) and the face profile (35.6% very satisfactory). Despite these concerns, a significant proportion of respondents reported positive psychosocial effects, including improved relationships with spouses (15.1% strongly agreed, 15.1% agreed), increased social interactions (41.1% strongly agreed, 47.9% agreed), and enhanced confidence in the child (30.1%stronglyagreed, 34.2% agreed).Notably, 34.2% of respondents were neutral about the child’s confidence in interactions after the repair.CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that cleft lip repair at KATH positively impacts parental satisfaction and overall psychosocial wellbeing. While parents/guardians expressed overall satisfaction with the appearance of the lip, other facial features may require more attention during surgical planning and post-operative care to enhance overall outcomes. Addressing parental concerns and providing tailored support services can further optimise the psychosocial effects of cleft lip repair and promote positive family dynamics. Continued research and comprehensive support programs are essential to improve the care and satisfaction of parents/guardians of children with cleft lip after repair at KATH.