Lived experiences of adults with cleft lip and palate in a low-middle income country – A cross sectional study

Background: The psychosocial issues surrounding having a cleft lip/palate (CL/P) as an adult, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are a key area for research in cleft management that requires attention. This study aims to explore the lived experiences related to CL/P of a sample of adults with CL/P receiving orofacial cleft care at our institution. Methods: This is a qualitative study in which in-depth interviews were conducted for adult individuals not <18 years of age with CL/P in Lagos, Nigeria. Interviews were recorded on an audio device and transcription was done using an edited intelligent verbatim transcription approach. Data analysis was done using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Fifteen individuals were recruited into the study, 11 females and 4 males. The averagee age was 28.3 (standard deviation 9.9) years. Nine were single, never married, and 13 had a tertiary level education. Participants described their experience of living with CL/P as limiting, mainly due to a feeling of not being understood by others due to their speech impairment. This limitation also extended to their ability to have stable romantic relationships and form close bonds outside their family. This limitation did not extend to their overall educational attainment, although there were experiences of bullying, especially during primary and secondary schooling, due mainly to their looking different. Conclusion: The psychosocialwell-being of individuals with CL/P should be considered an important treatment outcome. The result of this study has highlighted the need for this gap to be filled in comprehensive cleft care.