1Dept. of Physiology, J.N.Medical College, Belgaum
2Department of Community Medicine, BIMS, Belgaum
3Dept. of Physiology, J.N. Medical College, Belgaum
4Department of Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Belgaum
Online published on 23 January, 2012.
The present survey was conducted to assess Socio-Environmental determinants of Health. A cross sectional study was conducted in Vantamuri Village of North Karnataka and the information was collected regarding water supply, sanitary facilities, disposal of solid and liquid waste and health care facilities, by house to house survey. Statistical analysis was done by calculating proportions and percentages. There were around 500 families living in the village and out of them 59% were below poverty line. Fifty one percent of villagers used well water and majority of them were not sanitary wells. Only one bore well was there for public use. Only 13% of families had a facility of sanitary latrines and rest practiced open air defecation. The main source of energy for cooking was wood (85%). New approaches aiming to change these practices into culturally acceptable ones, to improve healthy living conditions and to promote innovative technology for human excreta disposal, solid waste disposal are required in rural places.
