Kapronczay Károly szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 202-205. (Budapest, 2008)
TANULMÁNYOK — ARTICLES - VARGA, Gabriella: A comparative study of the social-political determinants of infant and child mortality in Sweden and Hungary 1850-1945. - Összehasonlító tanulmány a svéd és a magyar csecsemőhalandóság szociálpolitikai tényezőiről 1850 és 1945 között
ish the alcohol's harmful effects. The general trend showed a decrease from 8,5 litre pure alcohol to 6 litre for every inhabitant above the age of 15. This decrease was directly correlated with the decline of death causes related to alcohol. (Sundin et al. 2005) According to Kapronczay (2001) an organised enlightenment movement against alcoholism was started in Hungary in 1901 when Hungary was the second biggest country in alcohol consumption in Europe. According to a survey made between 1900 and 1905 at industrial workplaces 70% of the injuries were alcohol related (Kapronczay, 2001). In Sweden a large population stratum was able to make their voices heard. The four Estates (Orders of Society) - the nobles, the clergymen, the bourgeoisie and the peasants - had representation in the Parliament already in the 18 th century. Universal suffrage became accepted in Sweden in 1921 excluding those without any property, they had to wait until 1945 to get the right to vote. From 1720 the burden on the peasants had decreased and the system of feudalism was much weaker in Sweden than in other countries due to the stronger power of the state. The state had good relation with free peasants, craftsmen and merchants. (Sundin et al. 2005) In the beginning of the 19 th century in Hungary elected representatives were nobles deputies from counties and the royal free cities, representatives of the Catholic Church, bishops also had voting rights. Peasants had no representation in the parliament (Diet). The revolution of 1848, which abolished the serfdom too, expanded the groups who could send delegates, beyond nobility: Non-Jewish men, over 20 with property or high education could vote their deputies. It was estimated that about X A - 1/3 of adult men had right to vote. (Dobszay, 2002 and Lendvai, 2003) We continue with some of the measures taken by the State which influenced health. Sweden had measures influencing the less privileged infants' lives. The first foster-childlaw came in 1902, the first law regarding children out of wedlock was written in 1917 and the law of child welfare was drafted in 1924. A committee of the associations for poor relief (National Assistance) was formed in 1905, followed by a similar committee of associations for childcare in 1925. Most important measure in childcare was the introduction of the regular doctors' consultations. These were in prophylactic purpose that could occur whenever the mother needed them. Midwives/nurses had to make home-visits when they gave useful information about the hygiene and childcare (Hbjer, 1934). In 1876 the Hungarian parliament declared that public health management (both policy making and enforcement) is a duty of the state. All children under 7 received free medical consultation. Only physicians with a medical degree were allowed to work as doctors. Although there were hospitals for foundlings since the end of the 18 th century, the first national home for destitute children was founded in 1870 in Budapest. The first National Society for the Protection of Children was formed in 1906 followed by the National Society for the Protection of Children and Mother two years later which organised pre- and neonatal care as well. (Kapronczay, 2001) The positive effect of alcohol taxes on mortality is a good example of the state policies' impact on the health. However those policies depend on who the decision makers arc, which in turn is a characteristic of the political system. Sweden had deputies like the nobles, the clergymen, the bourgeoisie and the peasants and whereas in Hungaiy only the nobles and the clergymen had representatives in the Parliament until 1848. All protecting policies and
