Usage of LATCH breastfeeding assessment toola and the effects on the success of breastfeeding

ABSTRACT USAGE OF LATCH BREASTFEEDING ASSESSMENT TOOL AND THE EFFECTS ON THE SUCCESS BREASTFEEDING KERZİBAN KOYUN This study was held methodologically and descriptive research in İzmir, Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department to evaluate the effects of tie clinical usage of the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool on the breastfeeding success and to investigate the relationship between mother and baby and the success of breastfeeding. The Breastfeeding Assesment Form which is used for collecting the data has three sections. In the first sect there is information about mother and baby, in the second sect LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, and in the third one there are compenents evaluating the relationship between mother and baby. The data were collected in a way of observation by a researcher, an observer nurse and breastfeding training nurse. Sampling consists of 100 healthy women and their healthy babies selected by nonprobable sampling method. During breastfeeding, each mother and baby were observed twice and data analyses was held within 200 observations. For independent interrrater correlation coefficent of LATCH compenents were between 0.70 and 1.0 (PO.01). Average Cronbach Alpha coefficient of two observations was 95%. Percent aggrement of researcher and observer was 82%. It has been founded that LATCH Tool does not have any effect on the success of breastfeeding when it is used by the breastfeeding training nurse (p>0.05). There was positive correlation between the LATCH and communication score (r=0.21, pO.01). Key Words: Breastfeeding, success of breastfeeding, assessment.