Authors : Okafor Ngozi Roseline; Nnabueze Ursular

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/ycy6rxrp

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mrfyxwpd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14744544

Abstract : The research looked into perceived contributory factors to cleft palate in the development of fetus among pregnant women in General hospitals in Enugu state. Eight research enquiries and the investigation was guided by eight hypotheses. A thorough evaluation of the literature was conducted in line with variables of the work. The study's focus was Enugu State, and it used a descriptive survey research design. The total study's population was 1024 registered pregnant women in the general hospital comprised of (704) urban and (290) rural dwellers also (670) Educated and (354) less educated among the respondents. Due to its manageability, the researcher chose to use the complete population for the study. The tool utilized to gather data was researchers’ made questionnaire titled “ Percieved contributory factor to Cleft Palate Development questionnaire (PCFCPDQ)”. The instruments were validated by three specialists from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and as the instrument was polychortomously scored, internal consistency was attained using the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient. To gain access to the respondents, the researcher hired eight research assistants. To facilitate simple access to the respondents, the researcher acquired an introductory letter from the head of the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education at ESUT. The responders were given the questionnaire, and the completed forms were immediately gathered. The mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the first eight research questions. The t-test statistic was used to evaluate hypotheses 1 through 8 at the.05 level of significance. The results of the study among others include Perceived lifestyle induces: e.g smoking, alcohol, poor feeding, lack of vitamin induces the development of cleft palate among pregnant women in Enugu State as opined by the respondents. The researcher recommends among others that health practitioners and care givers should on periodic bases review the lifestyle of pregnant women during antenatal visit and encourage them on the need to maintain healthy lifestyle practice during pregnancy.

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