title: Prevalence of orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries: A systematic review.
abstract: Cleft lip and/or palate are among the most common birth defects in the world. The prevalence of these conditions varies considerably across geographic areas and ethnic groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review and appraisal of the literature on the prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate in Saudi Arabia and comparable Middle Eastern countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  All published articles on orofacial clefts (OFC) in Saudi Arabia and its bordering countries in the Middle East with similar and comparable population characteristics were reviewed in July 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After reviewing the articles, only eight matched the inclusion criteria. Three studies were carried out in two regions in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Al-Qaseem). The other five studies were set in Dubai, Oman, and Jordan. The prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate reported in these studies varied greatly from 0.3 to 2.4 per 1000 live births. The birth prevalence of orofacial clefts in males was reported to be higher than in females. The isolated cleft palate prevalence was reported to be higher in females in most of the studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The eightfold variation in the prevalence of orofacial clefts between highest and lowest prevalence is likely to be due, at least in part, to problems with ascertainment, but there may also be underlying genetic or environmental factors that require further investigation.
authors: Preventive Dental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Heba Jafar
authors: HJ
authors: Sabbagh
authors: Peter Anthony
authors: PA
authors: Mossey
authors: Nicola P T
authors: NP
authors: Innes
keywords: Cleft lip and palate; Epidemiology; Middle East; Orofacial cleft; Prevalence; Saudi Arabia
references: J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008 Oct;66(10):2035-41
references: 18848099
references: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004 May;113(6):1548-55
references: 15114113
references: East Mediterr Health J. 2008 Mar-Apr;14(2):356-9
references: 18561727
references: Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2008 Nov;45(6):592-6
references: 18956928
references: Orthod Craniofac Res. 2002 Aug;5(3):154-60
references: 12194664
references: Ann Hum Genet. 1998 Sep;62(Pt 5):411-8
references: 10088038
references: Ann Saudi Med. 1997 Mar;17(2):254-6
references: 17377445
references: Ann Saudi Med. 2008 May-Jun;28(3):169-73
references: 18500181
references: Ann Saudi Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;27(2):106-11
references: 17356321
references: Br J Plast Surg. 1993 Dec;46(8):673-5
references: 8298780
references: BMJ. 2004 Jun 12;328(7453):1405
references: 15145797
references: Am J Med Genet. 1985 Apr;20(4):585-95
references: 3993684
references: J Med Genet. 1995 Aug;32(8):623-6
references: 7473654
references: Braz Oral Res. 2009 Jan-Mar;23(1):31-7
references: 19488469
references: Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991 Dec;88(6):955-8
references: 1946777
references: Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2000 Jan;37(1):41-7
references: 10670888
references: Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2004 Nov;41(6):609-12
references: 15516163
references: Pediatrics. 1997 Aug;100(2 Pt 1):180-6
references: 9240796
references: Lancet. 2009 Nov 21;374(9703):1773-85
references: 19747722