DURING THE PERIOD of the great Valencian painter and humanist Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923), children's health and social problems were an important issue, and his artwork reflects the harsh realities faced by the most vulnerable members of society. Sorolla's compassionate and often stark portrayals of sick or impoverished children, such as in "Sad Inheritance" (1899), served as a powerful form of social commentary, bringing to light the devastating effects of diseases like polio.
The Burden of Infant Mortality
While Sorolla's paintings offered a human face to these issues, the numbers behind them tell a tragic story. In early 20th-century Spain, infant mortality was a significant public health crisis, with rates among the highest in Western Europe. The primary causes were infectious diseases and malnutrition, exacerbated by a lack of clean water and proper sanitation. Post-neonatal mortality (deaths after 28 days) was particularly high due to gastrointestinal diseases like enteritis and diarrhea, which thrived in unsanitary conditions, especially during the hot summer months.
The devastating impact of these conditions was compounded by a broader lack of public health infrastructure. Initiatives like the "Gotas de Leche" (Milk Depots) were introduced to provide hygienic milk and educate mothers, but their reach was limited, especially in rural areas where poverty and traditional beliefs hindered the adoption of new health practices. This created a significant urban-rural health disparity, where the benefits of modern medicine were not equally shared.
The Added Crisis of the 1918 Flu Pandemic
The situation for children was made even more precarious by the 1918 influenza pandemic, which hit Spain particularly hard. While the pandemic is known for its unusual mortality curve that disproportionately affected young, healthy adults, infants and children were also highly vulnerable. The pandemic contributed to an increase in stillbirths and low birth weights, and for infants who survived, the death or illness of their primary caregivers further increased their risk of mortality. The pandemic exposed the fragility of public health systems and the high vulnerability of the population, including the youngest.
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Resource Books written by
Karla Ingleton Darocas
and published by
SpainLifestyle.com
Resource Books written by
Karla Ingleton Darocas
and published by
SpainLifestyle.com
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