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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Review Article

Effectiveness of structured lactation counselling on improving latching techniques among primiparous mothers: A systematic review

Dhwani Gohil, Rutika Bhoi, Janvi Deshmukh, Dimpy Bharucha, Abhilash Patil

Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 151-157

doi: https://doi.org/10.55126/ijzab.2026.v11.i03.023

Received on: 16/02/2026

Revised on: 27/02/2026

Accepted on: 19/04/2026

Published on: 01/05/2026

  • Dhwani Gohil, Rutika Bhoi, Janvi Deshmukh, Dimpy Bharucha, Abhilash Patil( 2026).

    Effectiveness of structured lactation counselling on improving latching techniques among primiparous mothers: A systematic review

    . International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 3), 151-157.

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Abstract

Primiparous mothers often face difficulties in initiating breastfeeding, particularly in achieving an effective latch. Poor latching can lead to inadequate milk transfer, nipple pain, engorgement, mastitis, poor infant weight gain, and early breastfeeding cessation. These challenges also reduce maternal confidence. Structured lactation counselling provides systematic guidance through demonstrations, feedback, and support, focusing on positioning and attachment to improve technique and outcomes. To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of structured lactation counselling on improving latching techniques among primiparous mothers. This PRISMA-guided systematic review included studies published between January 2010 and March 2026. Databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and observational designs assessing the impact of structured lactation counselling on latching outcomes. A total of 18 studies were included. Findings showed significant improvement in latching techniques, with up to 88% effective latching reported. Counselling also improved maternal confidence, breastfeeding practices, and reduced complications such as nipple pain, engorgement, and early discontinuation. Structured lactation counselling effectively improves latching, enhances maternal confidence, reduces complications, and promotes exclusive breastfeeding among primiparous mothers.

Keywords

Lactation counselling, latching technique, Primiparous mothers, Breastfeeding, latch score.

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    © The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.