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Orofacial cleft outreach in rural Ghana: any positive impact on the community?

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are common congenital malformations in humans. They impact negatively on the life of the affected and often regarded as stigma in the society especially among the rural folks. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the cases managed by a Ghanaian indigenous plastic surgery outreach team and prospectively outline the social impacts on the lives of those treated and their communities.

Methods

The study reviewed the medical records of patients treated during OFC outreaches in rural Ghana from January 2003 to December 2012 (10 years). This involved visiting and interviewing patients and their parents/relatives, as well as the community leaders comprising chiefs, assemblymen, church leaders, etc., using structured pretested questionnaires within 5 days (September 1–5, 2013) in communities in southeast of Ghana.

Results

A total of 32 outreach services were handled over the 10-year period, treating 303 OFC patients (among other pathologies), comprising 175 (57.8 %) males and 128 (42.2 %) females. Out of the 303, 159 (52.5 %) were located and interviewed; also, 65 community/opinion leaders/relatives were interviewed. Sixty-one percent (61 % = 35 patients) of the females and 48 % (n = 49) of the males got married after the surgery; 83 % (n = 45) of the school-going-age patients continued and completed basic schools.

Conclusions

OFC outreaches help to restore the lives and dignity of cleft patients and their families improving their quality of life. Stigmatization and psychological effects on them were removed; they were well accepted in their societies and family gatherings.

Level of Evidence: Level III, risk-prognostic study.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the research assistants, especially Miss Richcane Amankwa and Miss Juliet Adjei, both of Charis Missions International, who helped in the collection of the field data.

Ethical approval

This human study have been approved by the Committee on Human Research, Publications and Ethics of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology/Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and have been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Conflict of interest

None

Patient consent

All persons in this study gave their informed consent prior to the inclusion of their photographs in the publication; details that might disclose the identity of the subjects under study have been omitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Burns Unit, Kumasi, Ghana

    Pius Agbenorku & Paa-Ekow Hoyte-Williams

  2. Department of Surgery, Kumasi, Ghana

    Pius Agbenorku, Ken Aboah, Paa-Ekow Hoyte-Williams & Papa Kwesi Fiifi-Yankson

  3. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

    Pius Agbenorku, Ken Aboah, Paa-Ekow Hoyte-Williams & Papa Kwesi Fiifi-Yankson

  4. School of Medical Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana

    Pius Agbenorku, Ken Aboah & Papa Kwesi Fiifi-Yankson

  5. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Pius Agbenorku

  6. Health Education Unit, Global Evangelical Mission Hospital, Apromase, Ghana

    Margaret Agbenorku

  7. Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Health Sciences, Ho, Ghana

    Ellen Klutsey

  8. Department of Surgery, St Martins de Porres Hospital, Agomanya, Ghana

    Gospel Agamah

  9. Department of Nursing, Nurses Training College, Ho, Ghana

    Epiphania Amevor

  10. Department of Surgery, Sogakope District Hospital, Sogakope, Ghana

    Fritz Abude & Randy Sefenu

  11. Department of Anaesthesia, Sogakope District Hospital, Sogakope, Ghana

    Daniel Osei & Mary Kofitsey

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  1. Pius Agbenorku
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  2. Margaret Agbenorku
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  4. Ken Aboah
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  7. Paa-Ekow Hoyte-Williams
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  8. Fritz Abude
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  9. Randy Sefenu
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  12. Papa Kwesi Fiifi-Yankson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pius Agbenorku.

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Agbenorku, P., Agbenorku, M., Klutsey, E. et al. Orofacial cleft outreach in rural Ghana: any positive impact on the community?. Eur J Plast Surg 38, 17–24 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1025-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1025-6

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