Oral Stimulation for Supporting the Rooting-Sucking Reflex in Low Birth Weight Infants: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background & Objective: Children with a history of Low Birth Weight (LBW) are at greater risk of undernutrition compared to those without such a history. This vulnerability is associated with incomplete organ development and weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral stimulation in improving the sucking reflex in LBW infants.Materials & Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups was conducted involving 25 infants diagnosed with LBW. The intervention consisted of oral stimulation with one finger for 5 minutes followed by 1 minute of breastfeeding in the intervention group, while the control group received standard Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) unit procedures. Oral stimulation was administered twice daily for 14 days, with permission to continue beyond this period. Reflex assessment was then performed. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used for statistical analysis.Results: Baseline characteristics indicated that most infants were preterm (66%), classified as LBW (72%), and male (62%). Statistical analysis revealed significant improvement in the sucking reflex in both the intervention group (P<0.001) and the control group (P=0.001). However, the intervention group demonstrated a higher post-test mean score (1.25) compared to the control group (0.73). Comparison of Post-Test Sucking Reflex Scores yielded a p-value of 0.002, indicating a significant difference between groups.Conclusion: Oral stimulation effectively enhances the rooting-sucking reflex in LBW infants. These findings suggest that periodic oral stimulation can be implemented to support the rooting-sucking reflex in this vulnerable population.