Assumpta Udechi Chapp-Jumbo¹, Nneka Chioma Okoronkwo²* and Stella Nnenne Ijeoma³

¹Consultant Paediatrician, Professor of Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
²Consultant Paediatrician, Associate Professor of Paediatrics. Department of Paediatrics, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
³Senior Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Nneka Chioma Okoronkwo, Consultant Paediatrician, Associate Professor of Paediatrics. Department of Paediatrics, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

Received: August 24, 2021; Published: September 09, 2021

Citation: Assumpta Udechi Chapp-Jumbo., et al. “Tongue Tie” in South East Nigeria- The Practice, The Myths, The Rip Offs". Acta Scientific Paediatrics 4.10 (2021): 13-18.

Abstract

  This cross sectional study sets out to elucidate the myths and practices surrounding ankyloglossia also known as ‘Tongue tie’ among mothers in an immunization clinic in south East Nigeria.

  The prevalence of frenotomy was 27.3% and the reasons for the procedure were mainly concerns about delay in speech, problems with quality of speech or coercion by health workers who put fear of possible speech problems in the mothers.

  The level of education or the place of delivery did not affect the prevalence of the practice. Complications of frenotomy like bleeding was found in 13.3% of those that had the procedure.

  A call is made for health education of mothers, health workers and those caring for newborns to prevent the unnecessary use of this procedure so as to avoid serious complication. It will also help mothers to seek attention for suspected ankyloglossia from those who have the skills to make proper diagnosis and intervention.

Keywords: Ankyloglossia; Tongue Tie; Myths; Practice; Rip-Off; Frenotomy

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Copyright: © 2021 Assumpta Udechi Chapp-Jumbo., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.