Experiences Of Caregivers Of Children With Cleft Lip And/Or Palate Receiving Treatment At The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery And Burns Center Of The Korl-Bu Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT Globally, the issue of cleft lip and/or palate is a growing concern in many developed and developing countries. This study explored the experiences of caregivers of children with cleft lip and/or palate receiving treatment at the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Center of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were to (a) explore caregivers’ beliefs about the causes of cleft lip and/or palate (b) identify the challenges faced by caregivers caring for a child with cleft lip and/or palate (c) ascertain the coping strategies adopted by caregivers caring for a child with cleft lip and/or palate and (d) find out support services available to caregivers of children with cleft lip and/or palate. Using a qualitative research design, twenty-five participants were purposively recruited for this study. Key informant and in depth interviews were conducted to gather data for the study and the findings were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that cleft lip and/or palate was caused by factors such as abnormalities or heredity in pregnancy, supernatural causes, abuse of drugs and food. Moreover, some of the challenges faced by caregivers of children with cleft lip and/or palate included work/financial challenges, child care and negative reactions from family and health professionals. Furthermore, the findings indicated that support services were provided by government, NGOs, families and friends but some of the caregivers were not aware of the formal support services available to them. In addition, the study further indicated that caregivers in dealing with their challenges adopted strategies such as isolation, selfencouragement and motivation. From the findings of the study, it is recommended that sensitization of pregnant women and the general public on cleft and palate by social workers and health professional should be encouraged to reduce the negative reactions and stigmatization that caregivers face.