Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41584146›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

Parental knowledge and barriers to cleft lip and palate care: a cross-cultural study from the Middle East and South Asia.

Sari M Rabah, Heba Jafar Sabbagh, Alya AlZabin, Ebtesam Almajed, Razan Albrahim, Reema Aldawish, Lara Alyahiwi, Rand Alshabnan, Narmin M Helal, Muhammad Asjad Khan and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Sari M RabahPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Heba Jafar SabbaghPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Alya AlZabinCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ebtesam AlmajedCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Razan AlbrahimCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Reema AldawishCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Lara AlyahiwiCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rand AlshabnanCollege of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Narmin M HelalPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Asjad KhanDepartment of Biological Sciences, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Abrar YousafDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Shaimaa Mohsen RefaheeOral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
Mohamed Mamdouh KoraitimMaxillofacial and Plastic Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Mohammed Sadeq Kasem AlbadaniCranio-Maxillofacial Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Yousef Saleh KhaderDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Tamara Karim Al HalasaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Ola B Al-BataynehDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Mohammad A AlbataynehFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Orofacial clefts, including cleft lip and/or palate (CLP), are common congenital anomalies that can cause feeding difficulties, speech articulation issues, dental problems, and ear complications. Timely treatment is essential to improve the quality of life for affected children. This study investigates parental knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to care for children with CLP across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Pakistan. It explores cultural and systemic factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior and offers recommendations to reduce cross-cultural disparities in awareness and access to care. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeted parents of children with CLP, recruited through hospital records and community support centers in the four countries. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographics, parental knowledge, attitudes, practices regarding CLP, and barriers to accessing care. Results: A total of 505 parents participated, representing diverse regions of the Arab Gulf, North Africa, and South Asia. Most parents (91.9%) sought medical attention promptly after noticing CLP. However, knowledge varied: while many parents understood the medical nature of CLP, few recognized it as a syndrome or thought it was preventable. Travel and appointment barriers were prevalent; 70.3% traveled long distances for care, and 37.4% missed appointments due to work commitments. Conclusion: The findings reveal regional disparities in parental knowledge and access to care. Parents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and the Arab Gulf reported better understanding and fewer barriers. Improving health education, transportation access, and community-based services is vital to support families and enhance CLP management.

Indexed as

Cleft LipCleft PalateHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services AccessibilityParentsPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle EastMiddle Eastern PeopleSurveys and Questionnairescleft lipcleft lip and palatecleft palatefamilial adjustmenthealth policiesparental perceptionpediatricsquality of life

Identifiers

PMID41584146
PMCPMC12827703

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.