Coverage indicators in the implementation of lingual frenulum assessment in babies at a university hospital

ABSTRACT

Purpose  To evaluate the first six months of implementation of the lingual frenulum assessment in a university hospital.

Methods  The database of newborns in the hospital during the period of implementation of the lingual frenulum screening was analyzed. Healthy newborns of both sexes and admitted to rooming-in care were included in the study.

Results  1151 babies were born during the study period, of which 974 were admitted to rooming-in care and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 824 babies underwent lingual frenulum screening. It was possible to observe that the lingual frenulum screening reached, on average, 84.1% of newborns in rooming-in care in the months studied. Of the total evaluations performed, an average of 89.8% of normal cases and 6.6% requiring outpatient reevaluation were observed. The average number of cases identified with ankyloglossia during neonatal screening was 3.5%, and at outpatient follow-up it was 38.5%. The average percentage of absences at reassessment was 28.6%.

Conclusion  in the first six months of implementation of lingual frenulum screening, it was possible to verify that screening coverage was 84.6% and that there is a need for strategies to expand coverage, as well as for greater engagement of the target population in the proposed procedures, both reassessment and intervention.

Keywords:
Lingual frenum; Ankyloglossia; Neonatal screening; Newborn; Breast feeding