Nursing has a strong historical precedence in the treatment of health disparities.
This article evaluates the public health nurses' (PHNs') role with infant mortality
during 1884–1920, specifically how nursing care impacted on conditions of poverty,
poor nutrition, poor living conditions, lack of education, and lack of governmental
policies that contributed to the poor health of infants a century ago. The historical
significance of the early PHNs' role can improve our understanding of nursing practice
with childhood health issues today. Suggestions are made for nursing to focus on health
disparities in childhood obesity, in areas of environmental and policy changes, and
the development of social programs and education for families to support healthier
living.
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Published online: July 15, 2011
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© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
