Ahmedabad, Nov 18: Gujarat has recorded most deaths due to malnutrition – child and maternal – in 2016, a study has claimed. The other factors are dietary risk and air pollution. The study also reveals a very high percentage of deaths among children in the age group of 0-14 years in 2016. Also Read - Gujarat Ranks 3rd on IMA's List of 'COVID Martyrs' as 38 Doctors Succumb to Viral Infection

The report, India: Health of the Nation’s States, prepared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Public Health Foundation of India and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, says malnutrition caused maximum death and disability in 1990 while maintaining its position till 2016. Also Read - Fashion Designer Sharbari Datta Found Dead in The Washroom of Her Kolkata Residence

In 1990, malnutrition caused 36.1 per cent death and disability, while in 2016, it caused 14.6 per cent death and disability, the report says. On the other hand, 10.4 per cent death and disability in 2016 were caused due to dietary risk while, 9.1 per cent death and disability were a result of air pollution. Notably, air pollution was also the third risk factor in 1990, causing 10.2 per cent death and disability. Also Read - Amazon India Starts All-Women Delivery Station in Gujarat's Kadi, Second in The Country After Chennai

To understand where India is going wrong in eating habits, an atlas is being prepared in collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition, Health Commissioner Dr Jayanti Ravi has been quoted as saying by a report in The Indian Express. “We want to make sure that the existing programmes to deal with malnutrition are targeted in places where we see a lot of cases,” she added.

In Gujarat, as many as 10.6 per cent deaths in 2016 was in the age group of 0-14. It is worse than Maharashtra, which is at 6 per cent, and even Orissa at 9 per cent.

Reacting on the shocking figures, Dr Leela Visaria, honorary professor at Gujarat Institute of Development Research, slammed Gujarat for promoting medical tourism and ignoring health and survival of its children and women. “It is very evident from the findings of the recently-released ICMR report,” she added.