Aim: The study investigated the role of different factors could increase the potential risk factors of children with cleft lip and palate
defects in the Jordanian population. Materials and Methods: Design: A case-control study where questionnaire used to assess
different variables including environmental and medical factors. Setting: online questionnaire sent to mothers of children visiting
Al-Karak Hospital, AL- Bashir Hospital and some charities delivering services to Children with CL/P. Study Duration: the study
started from January 2021 and concluded in January 2022. Participants: questionnaire was answered by 100 mothers of children
suffered CL/P (case group), and by 100 mothers of healthy children (control group). Results: The results were analysed in relation to
the relative risk of each variable in order to estimate the odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95%. The analyses revealed that:
family history of CL/P (OR= 4.91), Consanguinity marriage (OR= 3.29), previous illness of the mother (OR= 2.45), and maternal
smoking (OR=1.09) are significantly increased risk factors for cleft lip or palate. However, the effect of taking folic acid or
multivitamins showed no significant differences (OR= 0.68, p = 0.24). Conclusion: Risk factors associated with CL/P in the studied
population are almost the same with those described in the previous related studies. Therefore, this study advised all healthcare
givers to educate the public about these factors as the same factors related to other congenital problems.
Keywords: Cleft lip, cleft palate, risk factor, Jordan, consanguinity, maternal
smoking, case-control study.