Nutritional Status and Factors Associated with Nutritional Status in Infants from Newborn to 2 Years with Cleft Lip and Palate in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

This descriptive research study aimed to: (1) examine the nutritional status of infants aged from birth to 2 years with cleft lip and palate, and (2) investigate the factors associated with the nutritional status of infants aged from birth to 2 years with cleft lip and palate at Mahosot Hospital in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The study was guided by Pender's Health Promotion Model. The study sample comprised of 57 pairs of parents and infants with cleft lip and palate aged from birth to 2 years. Data were collected between November and December 2025. A health information questionnaire on knowledge and parenting behaviors of parents of infants with cleft lip and palate based on the infant’s age range, as the questionnaire items differed across age groups, was used for data collection. The instruments developed by the researcher included the health information questionnaires and the growth record forms, which were examined for content validity. Subsequently, the reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha coefficient – ​​α) was calculated to be 0.86 for infants aged 0-6 months, 0.78  infants aged 7 - 12 months, 0.75  infants aged 13-18 months, and 0.75 infants aged 0-19-24 months. A translation and back-translation process was then conducted independently by Thai and Lao–Thai language experts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, maximums, minimums, and means. The relationships between the studied variables regarding personal factors were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Tests, while the relationships between the studied variables regarding knowledge and parenting behaviors were analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation.

The findings revealed that infants with cleft lip and palate experienced a high prevalence of malnutrition, with the majority presenting with underweight and stunted growth, accounting for more than 84.2% of the infants in the study. Most personal factors examined were not statistically significantly associated with nutritional status. However, the infant’s medical condition was identified as a significant associated factor. In addition, caregiver-related factors, including knowledge and caregiving behaviors, were not found to be significantly associated with nutritional status. These findings support a systems-based recommendation that the care of children with congenital anomalies should be delivered through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.