Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study
Introduction: Breastfeeding has important positive long-term health consequences for infants and their mothers. Assessing breastfeeding in the early postnatal period, prior to discharge, is crucial for successful breastfeeding. LATCH (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort and Hold) scor...
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JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20452/74442_CE(Ra1)_F(Sh)_QC(PS_IS)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf |
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| author | Sandhya Devi Lingala Nerella Jwala Vasavi Amara Jyothi Addanki Lakshmi Prasanna Chintha Nagireddy Anusha Reddy |
| author_facet | Sandhya Devi Lingala Nerella Jwala Vasavi Amara Jyothi Addanki Lakshmi Prasanna Chintha Nagireddy Anusha Reddy |
| author_sort | Sandhya Devi Lingala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Breastfeeding has important positive long-term health consequences for infants and their mothers. Assessing breastfeeding in the early postnatal period, prior to discharge, is crucial for successful breastfeeding. LATCH (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort and Hold) score can be used to categorise mothers with poor breastfeeding scores and counsel them to prevent early breastfeeding cessation.
Aim: To identify breastfeeding problems using the LATCH score and to assess the impact of lactation counselling among postnatal mothers.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from June 2023 to December 2023. The study included 400 healthy term and singleton babies. LATCH scores were assessed at 6-12 hours after delivery. Mothers with breastfeeding problems were identified, corrected and counselled. The LATCH scores were reassessed again after 24-48 hours. Data were statistically analysed using Chi-square test. The p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: The average age of the participants was 24.5 years, and most of them were illiterate. Out of 400 mothers, 344 (86%) mother-infant dyads had a LATCH score of <8 at 6-12 hours after delivery; this reduced significantly to 66 (16.5%). at 24-48 hours after breastfeeding support and training (p-value <0.001). Analysis of the association between demographic characteristics and LATCH scores showed that infants of certain subgroups, such as primi, caesarean, young, and less educated mothers, continued to experience lower LATCH scores.
Conclusion: The incidence of breastfeeding problems was high during the initial days after childbirth and was particularly prevalent among certain subgroups, such as caesarean mothers, primi-parous mothers, younger mothers and less educated mothers. However, systematic assessment using the LATCH score and timely supportive interventions can significantly improve breastfeeding outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45c20f16757a4097bf15b37746685c5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2249-782X 0973-709X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited |
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| series | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-45c20f16757a4097bf15b37746685c5a2025-01-09T12:15:48ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2025-01-011901010410.7860/JCDR/2025/74442.20452Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental StudySandhya Devi Lingala0Nerella Jwala Vasavi1Amara Jyothi Addanki2Lakshmi Prasanna Chintha3Nagireddy Anusha Reddy4Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Postgraduate Student, Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.Introduction: Breastfeeding has important positive long-term health consequences for infants and their mothers. Assessing breastfeeding in the early postnatal period, prior to discharge, is crucial for successful breastfeeding. LATCH (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort and Hold) score can be used to categorise mothers with poor breastfeeding scores and counsel them to prevent early breastfeeding cessation. Aim: To identify breastfeeding problems using the LATCH score and to assess the impact of lactation counselling among postnatal mothers. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, ACSR Government Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, from June 2023 to December 2023. The study included 400 healthy term and singleton babies. LATCH scores were assessed at 6-12 hours after delivery. Mothers with breastfeeding problems were identified, corrected and counselled. The LATCH scores were reassessed again after 24-48 hours. Data were statistically analysed using Chi-square test. The p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The average age of the participants was 24.5 years, and most of them were illiterate. Out of 400 mothers, 344 (86%) mother-infant dyads had a LATCH score of <8 at 6-12 hours after delivery; this reduced significantly to 66 (16.5%). at 24-48 hours after breastfeeding support and training (p-value <0.001). Analysis of the association between demographic characteristics and LATCH scores showed that infants of certain subgroups, such as primi, caesarean, young, and less educated mothers, continued to experience lower LATCH scores. Conclusion: The incidence of breastfeeding problems was high during the initial days after childbirth and was particularly prevalent among certain subgroups, such as caesarean mothers, primi-parous mothers, younger mothers and less educated mothers. However, systematic assessment using the LATCH score and timely supportive interventions can significantly improve breastfeeding outcomes.https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20452/74442_CE(Ra1)_F(Sh)_QC(PS_IS)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdffeeding practiceshospital deliveriesimproper position and attachmentmother-infant dyadsterm babies |
| spellingShingle | Sandhya Devi Lingala Nerella Jwala Vasavi Amara Jyothi Addanki Lakshmi Prasanna Chintha Nagireddy Anusha Reddy Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research feeding practices hospital deliveries improper position and attachment mother-infant dyads term babies |
| title | Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study |
| title_full | Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study |
| title_short | Identification of Breastfeeding Problems using LATCH Score and the Impact of Lactation Counselling: A Quasi-experimental Study |
| title_sort | identification of breastfeeding problems using latch score and the impact of lactation counselling a quasi experimental study |
| topic | feeding practices hospital deliveries improper position and attachment mother-infant dyads term babies |
| url | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20452/74442_CE(Ra1)_F(Sh)_QC(PS_IS)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf |
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