Influence of an Early Latching-on Program on the Breastfeeding Rate

빠른 젖물리기 프로그램이 모유수유 실천율에 미치는 영향

Purpose: This study sought to identify how initiating breastfeeding soon after birth affected breastfeeding practice. Methods: The subjects were mothers and newborns in Seoul's S. University Hospital maternity unit who elected to breastfeed. They were divided into an experimental group, which practiced an "early latching-on program" (latching-on within 30 minutes after birth), and a control group, which did not. Both groups' daily frequencies of breastfeeding and supplementary-glucose or bottle feeding were recorded. Results: The correlation between socio-demographic and medical characteristics and the breastfeeding rate was examined; 3 variables showed statistical significance: neonatal health anomaly, Apgar score after 1 minute, and Apgar score after 5 minutes. The difference in breastfeeding rates between the two groups was clear: the experimental group's rate was 1.93, while the control group's was 3.76 (t-statistic difference: 14.865), with the experimental group's rate during hospitalization being twice that of the control group (73.3% and 32.6%, respectively). Multiple regression analysis assessing the influence of the latching-on program yielded a t-statistic of -4.735 and a p-value of .000, indicating statistical significance. Conclusion: An early latching-on program's positive effect on the breastfeeding practice of mother's of newborns was demonstrated. Therefore, an early latching-on program could be a practical and effective nursing intervention for after mothers give birth.