[Evolution of prevalence rates of orofacial clefts in a maternity of a Chilean clinical hospital].

Background: Orofacial clefts are common and have a great medical and social importance. The Latin American Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC), has maintained an epidemiological surveillance of congenital malformations since 1969, allowing the evaluation of trends in the prevalence of malformations.

Aim: To evaluate the evolution curve of prevalence rates of orofacial clefts from 1971 to 2008.