Early cessation of breast feeding as a major cause of severe malnutrition in under twos: a hospital based study--Dodoma Region, Tanzania.

One hundred and ten consecutive children under two years of age were admitted because they were affected by severe Protein Energy Malnutrition. They were investigated to know the precipitating cause of their condition. 68 (62%) of them had a history of early weaning from the breast before 2 years, which was followed by a drastic drop of the growth curve. 16 (15%) of them adopted unilateral breast feeding. The study confirms the danger of stopping breast feeding before two years. This contrasts with other findings from Uganda, Zambia and Botswana which indicate that prolonged breast feeding is associated with higher prevalence of malnutrition in children. Further studies from other countries are necessary and opportune since the basic socio-economic conditions of the population, especially when these are as low as the case in Dodoma Region.