Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and environmental factors in Ningxia population. METHODS: This case-control study involved 453 NSCL/P patients and 452 normal newborns from Ningxia. A questionnaire focusing on various factors, including family history, pregnancy reaction, drug use during pregnancy, and infections, was used and responses were analyzed through Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis with SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: The constituent ratio of different types of NSCL/P was cleft lip∶cleft lip and palate∶cleft palate equal to 1︰2.02︰1.51. Logistic regression analysis revealed that abnormal pregnancy, infection, abortion, drugs, drinking, smoking, and living near factories likely increased the risk of NSCL/P (P<0.05). Single fetus, pregnancy-related nausea, vomiting, parents' moderate tastes, and eating soy foods and fruits decreased the risk of NSCL/P (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of NSCL/P should be reduced to enhance the conditions of women during pregnancy by maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding infections, abortion, drugs, and negative habits.
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