ABSTRACT
Normal individuals have their own growth potential, which is genetically determined. However, variations in the growth are due to interactions between these potential and environmental factors such as nutrition and/or chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to compare the nutritional status of squatter and urban children less than two years in relation to their feeding practices. Methodology: Through a cross-sectional approach, 1000 healthy children [<2 years] from a squatter and urban area in Alexandria-Egypt were submitted to weight and length measurements. Mothers were interviewed about demographic characteristics, socioeconomic data, and the current feeding practices using the 24-hours recall method. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with stunting, wasting, and underweight as dependent variables. There is a statistically significant difference between squatter and urban children in the prevalence of wasting [4.2% and 1.4% respectively] and underweight [11.3% and 2.4% respectively], whereas the prevalence of stunting was insignificantly higher among squatter children compared to urban children [21.7% and 16% respectively]. Nutritional status was generally better among exclusively breast-fed infants and those breast-fed for 23 months. Beside squatter residence, poor nutritional status was strongly associated with older child's age, male sex and being a child of non-working mothers. Conclusion and recommendations: Better nutritional status was encountered among urban children compared to squatter ones. Measures that enables children to live in environment that favor achievement of their growth potentials were recommended