Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2026 May 9:10556656261449340. doi: 10.1177/10556656261449340. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study the effect of nutrition care process (NCP) on cleft repair timing.DesignQuasi-experimental design.SettingTertiary care hospital with an operational cleft unit.Participants47 mothers of infants aged 0-6 months with cleft lip and palate who fulfilled the eligibility criteria.InterventionsDuring the baseline visit, anthropometric measurements of the infant were recorded, and World Health Organization (WHO) Z scores were plotted to identify their nutritional status. Nutritional education according to NCP was imparted to the mothers. In subsequent visits, growth of infants was monitored by anthropometry, education was reiterated and errors rectified. Right surgical timing was classified as on time or delayed according to age in months at surgery. Data collected were analyzed in SPSS software.Main Outcome Measure(s)Nutritional status, timely surgical readiness, educational level regarding nutrition, and feeding techniques.ResultsAmong the 47 infants, malnutrition improved from 55.3% mild, 29.8% moderate, and 14.9% severe at the first visit to 66% mild at lip surgery and 70.2% mild at palate surgery, with 68.1% and 70.2% infants respectively achieving timely surgical readiness. Infants with cleft showed consistently lower mean weights than the WHO standards at birth, lip, and palate surgery which was statistically significant (p = .001) indicating persistent growth faltering that was more pronounced among males. Mother’s education level was significantly associated with timely surgery (χ2 = 7.964, p = .047).ConclusionNutrition education effectively assisted infants in attaining the weight necessary for corrective surgery.
PMID:42104755 | DOI:10.1177/10556656261449340
