Measuring the interactions of the determinants of health.

Considering environmental sanitation and health care services as most important determinants of health, this study was undertaken to know their impacts in an urban slum area of Calcutta. The families were studied in-depth and detail in relation to their health status in the form of morbidities and utilisation of preventive and promotive services. The health service impact was mainly assessed through comparative study between these who availed the services and to these who did not. Similarly, environmental sanitation services impact on health was measured through comparing the slum group with those who lived in Pucca houses. The criteria of priority decision on determinants was attempted through analysis of cost of these services and comparing their beneficial effects on health.