title: ATTITUDE OF CLEFT CARE SPECIALISTS IN AFRICA TOWARDS PRESURGICAL ORTHOPAEDICS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the attitude of cleft care specialists working in Africa towards pre-surgical orthopaedics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pan-African conference on cleft lip and palate in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty cleft care specialists working in Africa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The general attitude towards pre-surgicalorthopaedics was positive. Majority of the specialists employ pre-surgical orthopaedics before surgical repair. Fifty four (91%) of the specialists use plaster strapping for cases of bilateral cleft, five (8.3%) use nasoalveolar molding and one (2%) use feeding plate. Half of the specialists (50%) felt that pre-surgical orthopaedics is to be managed by orthodontists alone. There were significant difference in attitude towards pre-surgical orthopaedics between providers (p < 0.05). Orthodontists had a strong positive attitude towards pre-surgical orthopaedics than other specialists. Younger specialists had a more positive attitude towards pre-surgical orthopaedics than older specialists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cleft care specialists in Africa have a positive attitude towards pre-surgical orthopaedics. Majority of them use plaster strapping technique. Younger specialists have a more favorable attitude towards pre-surgical orthopaedics than older specialists.
authors: Department of Child Oral Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: A T
authors: AT
authors: Adeyemi
authors: O O
authors: OO
authors: Bankole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires