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Campaigns on infant health care and role of female medical assistance in Dalmatia between World Wars

Infant mortality rates in Dalmatia in interwar period were still considered very high. As breast feeding were common practice among Dalmatian women (of all classes), main focus of medical authorities and legislators was an attempt to provide professional health care for young mothers and infants, as well as educate them about modern hygiene practices. But, as Dalmatia went through political and social unstable period, comprehensive and coherent health policy was difficult to accomplish. By the end of the First World War Dalmatia terminated its political connection with Habsburg Monarchy and became a part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia. From that time health policies were made in capitals, Zagreb and Beograd. The city of Zadar, capital of Dalmatia and the centre of Ministry of Health up to that time, in 1920 was excluded from Yugoslavia and annexed by Italy. Moreover, Italian government cancelled the only midwifery school in the province that was placed in that city. In following period Dalmatian predominantly rural and poorly educated female population faced decrease of educated midwives forcing them to rely on uneducated ones, while on the matter of raising an infant they maintain the practices based on folk believes and experiences. Health educators, medical circles and legislators had various suggestions on how to improve infant health and reduce infant mortality. Essentially, they all agreed about the crucial role of personal contact of educated female medical personnel to a young mothers.

Dalmatia between World Wars ; health campaigns ; infant health care ; female medical assistance ; Vinko Zanella

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