Peer-reviewed article
Oral Stimulation for Supporting the Rooting-Sucking Reflex in Low Birth Weight Infants: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Parida Hanum, Siti Arofah Siregar, Debi Novita Siregar, Kristina L Silalahi, Afeus Halawa et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5The study looked at whether gentle oral stimulation helps low birth weight infants develop a stronger rooting-sucking reflex, which they need to feed well. Infants in the intervention group received one-finger oral stimulation for 5 minutes followed by 1 minute of breastfeeding, twice a day for 14 days. The control group received standard NICU procedures. Both groups improved, but the intervention group had a higher post-test score and the difference between groups was statistically significant. The authors conclude that periodic oral stimulation can be used to support the sucking reflex in these infants.
Key points
- The study used a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups and involved 25 infants with low birth weight.
- Most infants were preterm (66%), classified as LBW (72%), and male (62%).
- The sucking reflex improved significantly in both the intervention group (P<0.001) and the control group (P=0.001).
- The post-test mean score was 1.25 in the intervention group and 0.73 in the control group.
- The difference in post-test scores between groups was significant (p=0.002).
Limitations
The sample was very small (25 infants), and the abstract does not say how infants were allocated to groups, where the study took place, or whether the effects lasted or affected feeding, growth or health. The control group also improved, so some of the gain may come from natural development or standard care.
Abstract
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.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
Problem
Weak rooting-sucking reflex in low birth weight infants, who are at greater risk of undernutrition
- Intervention
- Oral stimulation with one finger for 5 minutes followed by 1 minute of breastfeeding, given twice daily for 14 days
- Population
- 25 infants diagnosed with low birth weight (most preterm), compared with a control group receiving standard NICU procedures
Key finding
The sucking reflex improved significantly in the intervention group (P<0.001).
Hanum et al. · OpenAlex · 6 Oct 2026