HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PEDIATRICS AND

PEDIATRIC NURSING A.SWAROOPA

MSCPEDIATRICS

NURSING

The term pediatrics is derived from the “greek” word pedia (means child or pertaining to child) Iatrike (means treatment), Ics ( branch of science).

Pediatric nursing is “the practice of nursing with children, youth, and their families across the health continuum, including health promotion, illness management, and health restoration”.

“BENKELE”

DEFINITION OF PEDIATRIC NURSING

It is “ the art and science of giving nursing care to children from birth through adolescent with emphasis on the physical growth, mental, emotional and psycho-social development “.

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Study of pediatrics began in the last of 1800s under the influence of Prussian born physician, Abraham Jacobi (1830-1919) referred as “the father of pediatrics”.

The end of the 19th century is often regarded as “the dark ages of pediatrics”.

The first half of the 20th century is regarded as “the dawn of improved health care for children”.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT OF

PEDIATRIC NURSINGCHILDREN IN PRIMITIVE SOCIETYDURING ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONIMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON CHILD

CARETHE CHILD IN THE UNITED STATESMODERN CONCEPTS OF PEDIATRICS

Early primitive people were nomads, where they were moving constantly to search for food and safety from wild animals.The society ruled that malformed & sick children would drain the resources of the group.The sick child was killed or left behind.

CHILDREN IN PRIMITIVE SOCIETY

Some times infants were killed simply because they were females, who could not contribute as much productive labor to the group as males could. This practice is termed as female infanticide.

Some primitive person was believed that the birth of a defective infant was also Punishment for previous transgressions of the parents.

Child physical care & receiving love & affection used to depend on the cultural group and tribe of the mother.

The child in ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONs

The concept of the importance of child to society gradually improved instead of liability the child slowly became an

asset to society.

IN EGYPT: 1500 BC, children received treatment, which differed from that given to adults with good care .

Egyptian children were cared for by dressing infants in loose clothes and breast-feeding was encouraged.

They encouraged children to learn as well as to participate in out door activities.

 

GREECE & ROME:PHYSICAL BEAUTY WAS CONSIDERED

IMPORTANT BY THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF GREECE; THUS CHILDREN WERE RARED SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WELL FORMED BODIES.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY WAS STRESSED IN ROME BECAUSE ITS FUNCTION WAS TO RAISE STRONG SONS TO BECOME WARRIORS WHO COULD SERVE THE STATE.

ISRAEL:AMONG THE ANCIENT JEWS THE HYGIENIC MEASURES WERE IMPROVED IN MATERNAL & CHILD CARE.

HEBRIEW: PEOPLE RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEANESS & NUTRITION.

THEY ALSO RECOGNISED THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND MADE EFFORTS TO CONTROL THEM.

THEY BELIEVED THAT THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISSION PRACTICED ON MALE INFANTS SERVED AS A HEALTH MEASURE AS WELL.

PARENTHOOD WAS HONOURED AMONG THE HEBRIEWS, A LARGE FAMILY WAS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF “GODS BLESSING” UPON THE PARENTS.

 

IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON CHILD CARE:

CHRISTIANITY TAUGHT THE VALUE OF THE CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL .

SINCE CHRISTIANITY ALSO TAUGHE THE PROTECTION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG & CARE OF THE ILL BY THE WELL, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES STARTED TAKING CARE OF SICK & ORPHAN CHILDREN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY.

THE CHILD IN EUROPE:BEFORE THE 19TH CENTURY LIFE

EPECTENCY IN EUROPE WAS SHORT.

MANY PARENTS DID NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO REAR THEIR CHILDREN DUE TO CONTAGEOUS DISEASES .

YOUNG MEN DIED IN THE WAR OR FROM INJURIES .

WOMEN MARRIED EARLY AND HAD LARGE FAMILIES.

THE MATERNAL DEATH RATE WAS HIGH.

THESE CONDITIONS RESULTED IN MANY ORPHENED CHILDREN.

ASYLUMS INITIALLY FOUNDED FOR THE CARE OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN 787 AD.

THOUGH THE NUMBER OF ASYLUMS WERE INCREASED THE CHILDREN USED TO DIE DUE TO THEIR POOR HYGENIC CONDITIONS, OVER CROWDING, LACK OF NUTRITION, LACK OF SANITATION, POOR QUALITY OF CARE AND LACK OF ASEPTIC TECHNIQUES.

THE DARKEST PERIOD IN CHILD CARE IN GREAT BRITAIN & WESTERN EUROPE WAS BEGINNING OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DURING THE 1800’s.

CHILDREN OF 6-12 YEARS USED TO WORK IN COTTON MILLS FOR 10 OR MORE HOURA A DAY.

THEY OFTEN FELL ASLEEP AT THEIR WORK AND ACCIDENTS WERE MORE COMMON & THEIR WAGES WERE SO LOW, MILL OWNERS EMPLOYED THEM IN LARGE NUMBERS.

THE CHILD IN THE UNITED STATES:BY THE MIDDLE OF 19 TH CENTUARYLARGE SLUMS WERE GROWN IN NEWYORK MORBIDITY & MORTALITY RATES OF INFANTS & CHILDREN WERE HIGH DUE TO OVER CROWDING & UNSANITARY CONDITIONS.

DURING THIS PERIOD CONTAMINATED MILK LEAD TO SERIOUS INTESTINAL DISODERS AMONG THE INFANTS & CHILDREN.

MILK FROM TUBERCULOUS COWS CAUSED MANY CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS AMONG MANY CHILDREN.

THE CONDITION OF NEGLECTED, ABANDONED AND SICK CHILDREN AROUSED PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL SYMPATHY.

THE CHILD IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:

The emphasis of pediatric nursing, fifty years ago, was on the care of the ill children in either the hospital or physician’s office.

Today, dramatic changes in the care of children occurred, where the emphasis has broadened to include prevention of illness and accidents; the holistic health care; and the nursing care of children within their family constellation.

1771- New York Hospital one of the 1st teaching hospitals in USA provided classroom presentations designed for nurses caring children..

1790-first orphanage was established.

1851- The Hospitals for sick children was founded in London.

LAND MARKS IN DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD

HEALTH NURSING

1855- one of the earliest known pediatric text book “How to Nurse Sick Children” was published.

1855- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA was founded.

1860-Dr.Jacobi in New york established first children's clinic.

1867-1940 , Lillian Wald – The Founder of Public Health or Community Nursing.

1880- pediatric section of American medical association was organized.

Children Hospital training school in San Francisco offered formal classes to educate nurses in the care of ill children.

During this period the role of the nurse was taking care of children and they were responsible for maintaining nutrition, hygiene and hydration.

They played a major role in controlling the spread of communicable disease by observing sanitary measures.

1886- Nurses practiced in home without direct physician supervision.

1893- Lillian Wald opened the Henry Street settlement house, which provided medical social, cultural and education services to the poor children.

1896-Nurses Association Alumni of the United States and Canada was founded. Later it became the American Nurses Association.

1903- Recognition of pediatric Nurse was Initiated.

1909- President Roosevelt started first White House conference on children.

1912- The US Children Bureau was established as a result of this conference. (children health and environment).

During this time the creation of better standards of care for mothers and children started and it led to the “1st maternity and infants Act”. And it influenced for the creation of the “American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)”

1917-first child labor law was passed.

1935: the social security act for health and care of children became law.

1940- Spits and Roberson identified the effects of Isolation and Asepsis, maternal deprivation.

1946-The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund was created by United Nations. (UNICEF).

1948-The World Health Organization (WHO) was created .

1959-The 14th general assembly of the United Nations approved the declaration of Child Rights.

1963: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT FOR MATERNAL AND INFANT CARE.

1965: SOCIAL SECURITY ACT FOR COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE FOR DEPRIVED CHILDREN.

1970- Health became a more comprehensive concept. Nurses began to view children holistically i.e., in relation to their biophysical, cognitive affective and social needs.

1974-The child abuse and prevention Act & Juvenile Justice and Delinquency prevention Act.

1975-Social security Act for children.

1980-The Child Welfare Act.

1982: missing children act national computer information network to identify missing children.

1986-The National Child hood Vaccine Injury Act.Child survival act

LAWS AFFECTING EDUCATION OF HEALTHY AND DISABLED

CHILDREN•1965- Elementary and secondary Education Act.

•1973- Rehabilitation Act.

•1975- Education for all Handicapped Children Act. (Mandated free appropriate education for all children with disabilities below 3-18 yrs old.

1990- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). – including autism and traumatic brain injury. (Up to 21 years).

2001- No Child left behind Act.

CONCLUSION: the nurse has a responsibility both as a

citizen & professional individual to assure that the needs of children and their families are met.

SUMMARY