IMPROVING NUTRITION IN GUJARAT: INSIGHTS FROM EXAMINING TRENDS IN OUTCOMES, DETERMINANTS AND INTERVENTIONS BETWEEN 2006 AND 2016

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Gujarat, situated on the west coast of India, accounts for 6 percent of the area of the country, includes 25 districts subdivided into 226 blocks, 18,618 villages, and 242 towns (Government of Gujarat, 2017). Gujarat is home to more than 60 million people (5 percent of the population of India) (Government of Gujarat, 2017). It is one of the most urbanized states in India, with 43 percent of the population living in urban areas (Government of Gujarat, 2017). Gujarat is well-positioned compared to many other states in terms of economy, infrastructure, industrialization, and governance. However, maternal and child undernutrition remains a challenge for the state.

The purpose of this Policy Note is to examine the trends in undernutrition in Gujarat and to document trends and geographic variability in the major determinants of nutrition and the coverage of key nutrition and health interventions. In doing this analysis, we aim to highlight key areas for actions to improve nutrition in Gujarat.