Chernysheva N.V., Azhigulova A.I. Maternal and child health protection in the USSR in 1936-1941. Problems of social hygiene, public health and the history of medicine. 2026. Vol. 34. No. 3. Pp. 771-776.

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Abstract

In the USSR, in conditions of “demographic swings” of 1930s, deterioration of living standards of population, urbanization and other causes, mother and child health care especially mattered. The article considers mother and child health care in the USSR in 1936–1941 as part of demographic policy measures targeting the improvement of qualitative and quantitative demographic indicators. The period from validity of the Resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of June 27, 1936, to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War is analyzed. The mother and child health care was integrated into all three groups of measures of motherhood and childhood support and provided the state activities directed at expanding network of medical institutions, improving medical and social assistance support, expanding network of childcare facilities and training of operating personnel. The following conclusions are made. First, despite significant expansion of network of medical and childcare facilities and significant changes in system of medical and social assistance of mothers and children, practical implementation of these measures remained difficult. By the early 1940s, implemented measures were effective only in part. Second, the ban of abortions originated numerous social, medical and legal problems that negatively impacted the demographic situation. Third, despite undertaken measures, the USSR failed to stabilize the demographic situation by the end of 1930s and by the beginning of 1940s