An analysis of quality of life in 130 families having small children with cleft lip/palate using the impact on family scale

Most parents are emotionally traumatized when confronted by the birth of a baby with an orofacial cleft (OFC). Affected families may have to compensate for increased financial, social and personal impacts before primary treatment is completed. This study was conducted to identify factors influencing the quality of life (QoL) of families having young children with OFC. A self-administered questionnaire containing the impact on family scale was applied in 130 consecutive families having children with OFC aged between 6 and 24 months. The results were related to the type of cleft and the time of initial diagnosis using non-parametric tests and multivariate correlation analysis (P < 0.05). In families having children with isolated cleft lip, financial and social impacts were reduced, but problems in coping were increased when compared to families with children having cleft lip and palate or isolated cleft palate. Total impact was highest in families having children with isolated cleft palate, probably due to later surgery for reconstruction. Prenatal diagnosis of OFC did not reduce the general impact on affected families, but increased the social impact. The relation of certain impacts to distinct types of cleft might allow more tailored support of affected families and improve their QoL.