Abstract
This study was conducted to get a better understanding of cleft lip and palate, and obtain basic data on their recognition. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,712 parents of elementary school pupils in Nagoya. One thousand six hundred and eight replies (93.9% collection rate) were obtained. Examination of the answers as to whether there were any differences due to various factors regarding the acceptance of this disorder by the general public was made and the following conclusions were obtained:
1. No difference in common knowledge according to sex was noted, but common knowledge increased with increased education (the number of years of school-ing) of and the age of parents. A difference accord i ng to occupation and living quarters of parents was also found.
2. In those who held a pessimistic outlook of the prognosis of this disorder, no difference according to sex and age was found, but it was discovered that when the education (years of schooling) of the parents w as low, the number of parents with a darker outlook was higher also. A difference according to occupati o n and living quarters was observed.
3. Among the patients with this disorder, an impression of 'feeling sick', which is considered to give the gravest spiritual shock to patients and their families, was held by very few, while in those who wou ld assume a positive support of them, no difference according to sex and age was found, but a correla tion with the number of years of schooling was recognized, i. e., the higher the education, the higher the ratio. The differences according to occupation and living quarters were varied.
4. The majority of the questionees expressed anxiety about the future marriage of these patients as a social disadvantage, followed by their concern about the patients' first impressions and about the marriages of patients' brothers or sisters, but the sex difference was small. The figure increased with the number o f years of schooling, however.
As has been explained so far, the recognition of this disorder was found to be more closely related to the number of years of schooling of parents rather than to sex or age. It was suggested, accordingly, that better recognition of cleft lips and palate by the general public depends on education (enlightenment) regarding this disorder as well as related diseases during elementar y and secondary education.
