Breastfeeding assessment instruments and their use in clinical practice.

Objectives: To identify breastfeeding assessment tools, their application in clinical practice, and their validation and cross-cultural adaptation.

Method: This is an integrative review of literature obtained from six databases and an online library, conducted from August 2014 to December 2015, without a temporal delimitation.

Results: We identified 19 assessment tools, of which 12 were validated and five were cross-culturally adapted. In terms of adaptation, the tools were used to assess the risk of early weaning (BAPT) and the perception/behaviour of mothers during nursing (BSES-SF and IIFAS).

Conclusions: The identification of the available instruments and their indications for breastfeeding assessments can help health workers choose the ideal instrument, and qualify maternal and child care.