LATCH score and 6-month exclusive breastfeeding in a Baby-Friendly Hospital
Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira, cilt.72, sa.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 72 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1590/1806-9282.20251466
- Dergi Adı: Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Bottle feeding, Breast feeding, Pacifiers
- İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
OBJECTIVE: Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is essential for infant health. Various factors, as well as early breastfeeding performance assessed by the LATCH score, may influence exclusive breastfeeding duration, but their predictive value remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether early postpartum LATCH scores and other clinical or sociodemographic factors predict exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months in a Baby-Friendly Hospital. METHODS: The single-center prospective observational study was conducted at a Baby-Friendly Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. LATCH scores were assessed within the first 48 h postpartum by the same lactation consultant. At 6 months, follow-up interviews were conducted via phone to determine the infant’s feeding status, bottle and pacifier use, and return to work. RESULTS: Of the 301 mother-infant pairs included, 54.8% maintained exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. Higher early LATCH scores were significantly associated with vaginal delivery, previous breastfeeding experience, and exclusive breastfeeding during the first 48 h. However, LATCH scores were not significantly linked to exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. In multivariate analysis, bottle use was strongly associated with reduced likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months (OR 16.672, 95%CI 8.875–31.318, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Since bottle use is the most important factor affecting exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, preventing bottle use is a critical intervention in maintaining breastfeeding. Furthermore, the LATCH score is insufficient in predicting exclusive breastfeeding in the long term.