Effect of maternal vaccination on the occurrence of orofacial cleft in children

Abstract

An orofacial cleft is one of the major genetic disorders in children that can occur due to various malpractices and negligence by mothers during the gestational period towards factors crucial for giving birth to a healthy infant. One of these factors includes incomplete vaccination during pregnancy which can lead to the malformation of the oral cavity. Children with orofacial cleft suffer from multiple problems, especially in eating and encounter a slow growth rate along with the inability to perform competently in doing physical activity and other social aspects. Objective: To evaluate the effect of vaccination on the occurrence of an orofacial cleft in children. Methods: A sample of 100 children aged between 1-12 years using non-probability sampling was selected from 2 hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather information and data was analyzed by using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Mothers of 60% of children suffering from orofacial cleft did not get vaccinated during pregnancy whereas more than 50% of affected children were having slow growth according to their age along with facing problems in eating and normal food intake. Conclusion: The effect of maternal vaccination on the occurrence of an orofacial cleft in children is quite clear. Orofacial cleft also significantly affects the lives of children by declining their growth and overall personal and social life activities.