Здравно-възпитателни и организационни интервенции за подобряване на детското здраве в селата в периода 1925–1965 г.
Health-educational and organizational interventions for improving the children’s health in the villages in the period 1925–1965

Summary/Abstract: In the period 1920–1930 infant mortality in Bulgaria is about 2.5 to 3.4 higher comparing to the developed European countries. 77,2% of population in Bulgaria lives in the villages, so the above phenomenon is observed mostly in the rural areas. Mother’s low educational level, illiteracy, poor quality of health service, lack of health service network in general are the main reasons for the high level of infant mortality. At that time there is no national health care policy, but measures for improvement are taken by the Union for Child Protection in Bulgaria (UCPB), non-government organization working with the institutions and society. This study presents provision of health care service to children and educational options available to the mothers in the villages as opportunity for improvement of service that will reduce infant mortality. Through research and analysis on the legislation, regulations and published materials are highlighted: a) The contribution of Advisory Health Stations (AHS), established by UCPB (1925–1950), which set the continuous monitoring and evaluation on the health care for children under age of 3 and health education and counseling for the mothers in the villages. Presented are different educational initiatives used to reach families with small children in the villages: b) the role of so called teacher/counsellor for provision of social and health cares to children where no medical services are available (1927–1942); c) institutionalization of health care and preventive services after 1950 with focus on children in the villages, strengthening of Child health care consultations – successors to AHS as milestone in the health care system in Bulgaria. Promotion of knowledge in health and development of skills for raising children in the villages are supported by local policies. The issue with reducing infant mortality becomes a priority for both national and local authorities. The results are significant – from 144,50‰ in 1945 to 30.8 ‰ in 1964 – 25.6 ‰ in the cities and 35.4 ‰ in the villages, which outlines future work in reducing the inequalities.

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