Cleft Lip and Palate Care in Nigeria: Current Status of Orthodontic Residents' Training in the Management of Children With Cleft Lip and Palate.

This study aimed to assess and achieve an overview of the current status of training of orthodontic resident doctors working in Nigeria with regards to the management of children affected with cleft lip and palate (CL/P). Semistructured questionnaires containing 10 categories of questions relating to CL/P care were sent to 20 orthodontic resident doctors training to become specialists and working at 3 hospital training centers in Nigeria. Sixteen out of 20 (80%) questionnaires were eventually completed by the doctors and returned. Results were analyzed and reported as follows; 15 (94%) of the resident doctors had no orthodontic clinical experience in the management of children with CL/P and had never fitted a presurgical orthopedic appliance prior to the time the research was conducted. All the 16 resident doctors (100%) claimed to have been informed and taught in CL/P management by attending formal lectures and presenting seminars topics. Majority 15 (94%) of the resident doctors still did not have the required experience and research skills in the field of CL/P, while 14 (87.5%) of them had never attended craniofacial conferences before now. This study has revealed shortcomings in training of orthodontic residents as it concerns the management of children affected with CL/P in Nigeria. Trainers and orthodontic training institutions in Nigeria may need to restructure their training program to allow for more in depth training as it concerns management of children affected with CL/P.