Breastfeeding assessment and management instruments: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionDifferent aspects are involved in the breastfeeding process that may vary according to the target population, postpartum phase and evaluation scenario. The identification of such instruments, their constructs and applicability in health services will contribute to the understanding of the most relevant aspects and dissemination of tools that can be implemented in the necessary spaces to promote breast feeding. This article describes a review protocol to map the assessment and management instruments applied to breast feeding in the puerperal period existing in the literature.Methods and analysisThis is a protocol of a scoping review that follows the methodological recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). In March 2024, a search will be carried out in the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online—Medline (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature—Lilacs (BVS), Cochrane Library and Embase (CAPES). Peer-reviewed studies that address instruments for evaluating the breastfeeding process during the puerperium will be included, regardless of year of publication or language. The selection of studies and data extraction will be done by peers and disagreements will be resolved by a third researcher. The selection will be made through the Rayann platform (https://www.rayyan.ai/). Data extraction and synthesis will be performed by pairs, using a semistructured instrument, based on the model available in the JBI manual. The studies will be summarised according to the postpartum period in which the instrument was used (immediate, remote or late postpartum) and their constructs, domains and contexts of utilisation will be identified.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not necessary for this scoping review. The results of the review will be shared through publications in peer-reviewed journals, at relevant scientific conferences and seminars and meetings with maternal and child healthcare providers.Study registrationThis study was registered with Open Science Framework registry (osf.io/f4hz8) on 27 April 2023.