Causes of cleft

Even though cleft lips and palates are the most common birth defects scientists still do not fully understand what actually causes them. There is no single cause for cleft. Rather, there are several known genetic and environmental factors that make it likelier that a child is born with a cleft:

• Parents or other family members have cleft (and other genetic causes),
• Consanguineous marriages (children born from a couple who are close relatives),
• Vitamin deficiency during pregnancy,
• Poor quality of air or water in the living environment,
• Living in high altitudes (thin air).

Many people still believe that cleft is given by god or that it is related to lunar or solar eclipses. This is not true. Likewise, no person can be made responsible for the deformity.