This document provides a history of the development of pediatric medicine and nursing from prehistoric times to the modern world. It discusses how in ancient civilizations children were reared according to traditions and medical care focused on mothers and children. During the medieval period, war, epidemics, and poor conditions in shelters led to high child mortality. The Renaissance period saw enhanced knowledge dissemination and the first infant hospitals in Italy. The modern world brought great progress in child health due to recognized differences between child and adult diseases, separate pediatric departments and hospitals, and policies focused on children's rights and development. Pediatric nursing training began in specific schools and graduate programs.

1. History of Child Health Nursing
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Anju George, Associate Professor,
Parumala1
UNIT –I Concepts of child care

2. PEDIATRICS
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Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science concerned with physical,
mental and social health of children from birth to young
adulthood”

3. Pediatrics – derived from Greek word
pedia (means child or pertaining to child)
Iatrike (means treatment)
Ics (branch of science) .
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4. Why should a pediatric nurse know about the
history?
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• It is essential for the nurse to gain an
appreciation of the trends leading to our present
concepts and practices specific to children.
• This help the nurse to understand the current
and the future status of pediatric nursing and its
scope.

5. Prehistoric times (before 3000 BC)
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• Little is known about the prehistoric times.
• Rule was survival of the fittest.
• Unwanted children were made to die.
• Wanted children was nurtured to the best by the mother.
• At puberty :-
▫ girl child took responsibility as an adult and was expected to produce children and take
care of the family
▫ Boys became hunters and fathers of future generation

6. Ancient civilization (3000 BC to 500 AD)
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• In India & China – children were reared in the traditions passed down
from the previous generations.
• Orphaned children were adopted to many families.
• Medical care for mothers and children was a concern.
• Infanticide was accepted widely to eliminate unwanted children.
• Fathers had absolute authority over the children.
• Treatment of childhood diseases was different from that of adults.

7. Medieval period (450-1350 AD)
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• War and epidemics was common during this period, hence the
death rate among children too was high.
• Temples were the centers for healing.
• The first infant hospital was in Italy in 787 AD.
• It was a shelter to the abandoned children but the conditions in
these shelters was extremely poor due to the lack of knowledge
of standard nursing care.

8. Renaissance and early modern world (1350 – 1800
AD)
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• Many changes took place during this period which has affected human life to
a great extent.
• The dissemination of knowledge was enhanced.
• 2 medical books – book of children (by Thomas Phaer) and the children’s
book (by Felix Wurtz) greatly influenced the practice of pediatrics.
• Child labor was common. Darkest period in child care in great Britain and
Europe was during early 1800s.
▫ Children as young as 6-12 years worked in the cotton mills for more than 10

9. MODERN WORLD(1800 AD
onwards)
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• Great progress in conquering disease, hunger, thirst, ignorance and
superstitions.
• It was recognized that child diseases was different from adult which lead to the
development of hospitals devoted for children's.
• The study of pediatrics began in the latter half of 18th century under Abraham
Jacobi – Father of Pediatrics . He developed American Pediatric Society.
• Separate departments in medicine and surgery was developed in pediatric
department.
Contd

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• 19th century is known as the dark ages of pediatrics because of child hood illness, injuries, child
labor, poverty and neglect as a consequence of industrialization.
• First half of 20th century was known as the dawn of improved health care of children.
• MCH programs was developed during 1912.
• Universal children’s day was celebrated on November 14th by international Union for Child Welfare
and UNICEF.
• The general Assembly of United Nations declared the Rights of Children in 1950, November 2oth .
• Government of India adopted National Policies Of Children for the development of children in 1974

11. Development of pediatric medicine in the world
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• During 19th century , some physicians devoted their interest in children but emphasis
was laid on disease but not on children.
• Dr Abraham Jacobi convinced that the diseases in children was totally different from
that of the adult and took classes about diseases of children .
• The first department of pediatrics was established in Harvard university in 1888
headed by Dr. Thomas Morgan Rotch.
• Later department of pediatrics appeared in all of the medical schools.

12. Development of pediatric nursing in the
world.
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• There were some schools which were training nurses to take care of
the sick children.
• Florence Blake was one of the leaders who became famous because
of her psychological insights into child development and behaviour.
• Florence Erikson also made great influence on the development of
graduate program in pediatric nursing and in nursing research.

13. Development of pediatric medicine & nursing in
India.
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• The worlds first pediatricians –kashyappa and Jeevaka were Indians.
• Kashyapasamhitha and Vridhajeevakiv Tantra were on child care and children’s
diseases.
• The chapter on Kaumarabrita in Susruta Samhita was perhaps the first record of
pediatrics.
• Susruta contains many aspects of child rearing.
• Charaka ,a physician wrote on care and management of newborn in his Ashtanga
Hridaya in 4th century AD.
Contn..

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 Pediatric nursing as a course was started in CMC,Vellore and RAK,
Delhi when undergraduate nursing started.
 Pediatric nursing was included as a separate course in all graduate
programs in Kerala & College of Nursing, Thiruvanthapuram started
first postgraduate program in nursing in Kerala.

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