Figures and problems. Statistics and health in Territorios Nacionales (1880-1940)

https://doi.org/10.18294/sc.2009.264

Published 7 August 2009 Open Access


María Silvia Di Liscia Licenciada en Historia. Doctora en Geografía e Historia, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, España. Profesora Asociada, Departamento de Historia, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad de La Pampa, Argentina



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Keywords:

Demographic Statistics, Health Care (Public Health), Argentina

Abstract


Since the late 19th Century, Territorios Nacionales [National territories] witnessed deep socioeconomic transformations and a process of state installation different from the rest of historical provinces. Demographic statistics, and especially morbidity and mortality records were used by hygienist projects to enhance Argentinian material progress in the most developed areas of the country, but mechanisms and information gathering as well as tabulation and systematization implied important problems for the new areas. By using documentation produced in the Departamento Nacional de Higiene [National Hygiene Department] and other public agencies, an analysis is developed concerning the difficulties for the access to demographic information related to sanitary aspects, which were, nonetheless, crucial to future planning of public policies and for the formation of new public health institutions. Gaunt and fragmented knowledge of diseases and death causes in the Territorios Nacionales did not prevent its formalization, even with delays and limitations, but such a situation is related to political needs for institutional emergence during the 1930's and 1940's and not necessarily a deeper demographic knowledge of the population that was to be medicalized