[Socioeconomic adjustment in young cleft lip-palate patients].
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to evaluate socioeconomic adjustment of young adults after treatment for cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
A retrospective study was made including patients born from 1975 to 1986 and followed-up in our department. The investigation was based on response to a questionnaire that partly replicated a national survey of social and economic life in the population (standard of living survey Burgundy, Insee France 1999). The control group was constituted by individuals taken from a regional probability sample of households. This report covered education, employment, and marriage.


RESULTS
41 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study and compared to 972 young adults. There was a significant delay in the independence process, regarding housing and marriage. Patients remained in normal limits concerning employment. However the patients' education history showed a significant delay, and a higher rate of vocational courses.


CONCLUSIONS
The independence process showed a significant delay in cleft lip-palate patients, as well as education history. Nevertheless the final socioeconomic adjustment was similar to that of the general population.
Service de chirurgie maxillofaciale et de stomatologie, chirurgie plastique, esthétique et réparatrice, chirurgie de la main, CHU de Dijon, 3, rue du Faubourg-Raines, BP 1519, 21033 Dijon, France.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors