Background: Preschool age is the most vital stage where in good nutrition is essential for growth and development. Assessing nutritional status is an integral part of monitoring the community health. In developing countries, there is strong evidence that urban areas have better health outcomes than rural areas.
Aim of work: This study aimed to compare nutritional status between urban and rural preschool children in Al-Behaira governorate, describing factors associated with child malnutrition.
Patients and methods: This was comparative study involving 200 children attending the pediatric outpatient clinic of Al-Behaira hospitals (Damanhor and Shubrakhet), during the period from September 2021 to November 2021, children were selected by simple random method.
Results: In urban group underweight was associated with poorest SES, eating 3rd order children, mother's occupation, poorest SES, low protein intake and history of hospitalization. Wasting associated with nuclear family and history of diarrhea. Overweight associated with nuclear family and daily protein intake.
In rural group underweight was associated with poorest SES, twins, LBW, mothers married 6 months. Stunting associated with prematurity, LBW, illiterate mothers, formula feeding, low protein intake, history of diarrhea, hospitalization and anemia. Wasting associated with LBW, mothers married 25 years and eating >3 meals/day.
Conclusion: There is no difference between the two groups regarding anthropometric measurements (P > 0.05).