The mothers of 135 hospitalized infants were interviewed regarding several social, familial, personal, and psychological conditions considered to be pertinent to the etiology of protein energy malnutrition in impoverished African urban areas. The information gathered was contrasted with similar data collected from the mothers of 296 adequately nourished infants. The results confirmed the lower socioeconomic status and general material disadvantages of families of malnourished infants. However, they also indicated that there were important differences between the two groups in terms of some specific features of child care, and the degree of support and independence available to the mothers. The mothers of the malnourished infants received less support from the fathers of the children as compared to the adequately nourished group, and were also less involved in child care activities. In addition, these mothers were not as positive in attitude about their infants as were the mothers of the adequately nourished children. (Author)