The Right to Food: Determinants of Malnutrition in Rural Gujarat
Summary
In India, 47% of the children, below the age of three are malnourished and 47% of Ichildren under five are categorized as moderately or severely malnourished. However, being India a very large country, level of malnutrition varies, and so do its determinants.Gujarat is one of the richest states of India, yet their malnutrition levels are over the national average. This research aims to determine which are the factors that affect children’s nutritional status in rural Gujarat. During the research three main determinants of malnutrition were found: age, access to folic acid and iron tablets during pregnancy and having a BIMA Card, which means having free access to medical facilities. This indicates that individual characteristics of the child and household characteristics are the main factors to explain malnutrition in the communities selected for the study.