Is Prolonged Breastfeeding Associated with Malnutrition?
GROUND: A growing body of literature suggests that prolonged breastfeeding (typically defined as beyond the first year of life) may be a risk factor for malnutrition. METHODS: To examine the extent to which continued breastfeeding is a risk factor for malnutrition, we used multiple regression techniques to relate curent breastfeeding status to weight and stature in children <36 months old whose mothers participated in one of 19 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 1987 and 1989. RESULTS: The data from 9 of 11 countries outside sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicated that among older children, those still breastfed are shorter and lighter than those no longer breastfed. These differences, which reache statistical significance in five countries, become apparent at 12 18 months of age. In contrast, in live of eight SSA countries, younger still breastfed children are significantly shorter and lighter than those no longer breastfed, but the differences are largely diminished am
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