Filipino Mothers’ Initial Reactions and Responses to the Birth of a Child with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. The manuscript describes the initial reactions, concerns, and coping responses of Filipino mothers upon the birth of a child with cleft lip and/or palate. It highlights that mothers experience predominantly negative emotions (e g., shock, anxiety) alongside hope, with major concerns focused on feeding, speech, cost of surgical intervention, and social stigma. Mothers commonly respond by seeking professional help, information, social support, and engaging in religious coping behaviors.

Objective. The study explored the initial reactions, concerns, and responses of Filipino mothers to the birth of their child with a cleft lip and/or palate. It aimed to identify which of the cleft types (i.e., cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip and palate) showed the highest number of identified reactions, concerns, and responses.

Methods. The study employed a quantitative research design using descriptive statistics to present the data. Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit the participants. 201 Filipino mothers of children with cleft lip and palate were recruited from a local cleft center and through an online support group of mothers with children with cleft. Data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire that was developed based on existing tools and modified by the researchers to suit the study objectives. The instrument was subjected to a two-level validation process conducted by a team of professional speech pathologists. Results were presented using tables and graphs depicting the frequency of the participants' responses on the specifics of the study. The questionnaire was written in English and was also translated into Tagalog, the predominant local language in the Philippines.

Results. The initial reactions expressed by the mothers included shock (63.68%), anxiety (49.75%), worry (76.61%), and sadness (54.22%). However, a notable positive reaction was also reported, as many mothers felt hopeful (78.10%) that something could be done to improve their child’s condition. The concerns raised by the mothers ranged from the costs of intervention and potential effects on the psycho-emotional development of the children due to bullying in school, as well as the impact of the condition on feeding (70.64%), speech (74.12%), and social relationships (37.31%). Many mothers sought consultations with medical and health professionals (91.54%), while others looked for existing parent support groups (50.74%) or consulted with family members (29.85%). The internet (78.10%) played a crucial role in helping these mothers by providing information about cleft lip and/or palate, guidance on where to seek help, and advice on what steps to take. Additionally, many mothers relied on their religious and cultural backgrounds (83.85%) as a means to cope with the situation.

Conclusion. The reactions, concerns, and responses of parents upon the birth of a child with a cleft lip and/ or palate were congruent with other studies reported. The results showed that mothers of children with cleft lip and palate showed the highest number of reactions, concerns, and responses, while mothers of children with cleft palate exhibited the least reactions, concerns, and responses.