Cleft Lip and Palate: Impact of the Introduction of Free Care at the Brazzaville University Hospital Centre

Access to comprehensive treatment for cleft lip and palate remains limited for disadvantaged populations due to cost. Aim: To assess the impact of the introduction of free treatment for cleft lip and palate. Materials and Method: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection, covering two phases: a period before the introduction of free care from January to December 2020 and a period after the introduction of free care from January to December 2021. The study population consisted of all patients operated on for cleft lip and palate during the study period in the stomatology and maxillofacial surgery department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville (CHU-B). Results: Our population consisted of 49 patients operated on, 10 before the introduction of free surgery and 39 afterwards. The predominant sex was female (59.18%). An improvement was noted in several indicators of access to care, in particular, the average age of the first consultation was reduced, with an improvement of 83.33%, and the average age of the first surgery was reduced, with an improvement of 61.11%. The average number of consultations per patient increased by an average of +1.15. The number of operations per patient increased, with an improvement of 150%. The rate of complete follow-up improved by 88.74%. Conclusion: The introduction of free care in our context has had an overall positive impact on patient care. We noted an improvement in access to and quality of care.