[Technical assistance in crisis times: Brucelosis in the country programs for Spain of the world health organization (1951-1972)]. / Ayuda técnica en tiempos de crisis: la brucelosis en los programas país para España de la organización mundial de la salud (1951-1972).

OBJECTIVE: Brucellosis was one of the most important health problems in post-Civil War Spain and in subsequent years. The objective of the study was to reconstruct the first programs that the WHO set up in this country, to address this problem, between 1951 and 1972 and their main outcomes. METHODS: On the basis of primary sources of diverse origin, especially unpublished reports on Spain from foreign experts, from the WHO Historical Archive, the contents related to the disease were analyzed, contextualizing them within the framework of both the history of Spanish Public Health during the period studied and the international public health strategies for the prevention and control of brucellosis between 1951 and 1972. RESULTS: Spain 0001 (E1), Spain 0012 (E12) programs were located. The first of them (E1), dedicated to the problem of endemoepidemic diseases (brucellosis, rabies and Q fever), developed between 1952 and 1956, offered assistance in the work of control of these diseases carried out by public health laboratories. The second was preceded by visits of experts between 1956-1958 and formally started in 1969 and ended in 1972. This program was specifically devoted to the fight against brucellosis and included the start-up of laboratory and epidemiological work, the training of specialists, vaccination experiences in goats and sheep and the initiation of studies on immunizations in humans. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of consultants and experts from the WHO, from the highest scientific authority in the field of brucellosis such as Sandford Elberg or Martin Kaplan, was decisive in, at least, two aspects: first, to have an external view that would allow to know the reality of the Spanish health situation in the matter of the control of this zoonosis and, secondly, to start up and develop laboratory techniques and training of specialists with the aim of creating, at least, a center of reference for the preparation of vaccines, which the experts placed, ideally, in the National School of Health in Madrid.

OBJETIVO: La brucelosis fue uno de los más importantes problemas de salud en la España de la postguerra civil y en los años posteriores. El objetivo del estudio fue reconstruir los primeros programas que la OMS puso en marcha en este país, para abordar dicho problema, entre 1951 y 1972 y sus consecuencias. METODOS: Sobre la base de fuentes primarias de diversa procedencia, en especial, informes inéditos sobre España de expertos extranjeros, procedentes del Archivo Histórico de la OMS, se analizaron los contenidos relativos a la enfermedad, contextualizándolos tanto en el marco de la historia de la salud pública española del periodo objeto de estudio como en el de las estrategias a nivel internacional desarrolladas en este campo. RESULTADOS: Se localizaron los programas España 0001 (E1) y España 0012 (E12). El primero de ellos (E1), dedicado al problema de las enfermedades endemo-epidémicas (brucelosis, rabia y fiebre Q), desarrollado entre 1952 y 1956, ofreció asistencia en las labores de control de estas enfermedades llevadas a cabo por los laboratorios de salud pública. El segundo, precedido de visitas de expertos, entre 1956-1958, se inició formalmente en 1969 y finalizó en 1972, se consagró específicamente a la lucha contra la brucelosis e incluyó la puesta en marcha de trabajos de laboratorio y epidemiológicos, formación de especialistas, experiencias vacunales en ganado caprino y ovino e inicios de estudios sobre inmunizaciones en humanos. CONCLUSIONES: La presencia de consultores y expertos de la OMS de la máxima autoridad científica en el campo de la brucelosis, como Sandford Elberg o Martin Kaplan, fue decisiva en dos aspectos al menos, en primer lugar, para poder disponer de una mirada externa que permitiera conocer la realidad de la situación sanitaria española en el tema del control de dicha zoonosis y, en segundo lugar, para la puesta en marcha y el desarrollo de técnicas de laboratorio y de formación de especialistas con el objetivo de crear, al menos, un centro de referencia para la confección de vacunas, que los expertos situaban, de forma idónea, en la Escuela Nacional de Sanidad en Madrid.

[Health Campaigns Against Malaria in Spain through the Specialized Journalism in Spain (1929-1954)]. / Campañas sanitarias frente al paludismo en España a partir de los trabajos publicados en dos revistas científicas: Medicina de los Países Cálidos y La Medicina Colonial(1929-1954).

BACKGROUND: Malaria was one of the most important public health problems of the Colonial Medicine and, for this reason, the subject was reflected in the Spanish medical journalism. The aim of the paper was to reconstruct the Spanish contributions to international health during the first half of the twentieth century. METHODS: The primary sources of information on malaria were the medical journals Medicina de los Países Cálidos and Medicina Colonial, between 1929 and 1954. The documents were classified according to the sections of the magazine and its contents were studied, framing them in the history of international public health. RESULTS: In primary sources were found 466 documents. Malaria was one of the major diseases of the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco and Spanish Guinea, favoured by the occupation of the Spanish army. Antimalaria campaigns included strategies such as the use of Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, preventive education and massive quininización. Malariology in the specialized journalism, experienced a growing boom. The most outstanding authors in magazines analyzed were Gustavo Pittaluga, Sadí de Buen, Eliseo de Buen and Juan Gil-Collado. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish specialized journalism provides the importance e interaction in antimalaria campaigns in Spain and Spanish African colonies of scientific, professional, political and military factors. The colonial situation was negative and marked differences between metropolis and colonies in terms of the effort, efficiency and the different temporal sequence of the measures undertaken.

OBJETIVO: El paludismo fue uno de los más importantes problemas sanitarios de la Medicina Colonial y objeto de estudio de gran interés en las revistas médicas españolas. El objetivo del trabajo fue reconstruir las aportaciones españolas a la salud internacional durante la primera mitad del siglo XX. METODOS: Las fuentes primarias de información sobre paludismo fueron las revistas Medicina de los Países Cálidos y La Medicina colonial, publicadas entre 1929 y 1954. Los documentos se clasificaron según las diferentes secciones de las revistas y se estudiaron sus contenidos, enmarcándolos en la historia de la salud pública internacional. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron en las fuentes primarias 466 documentos. El paludismo fue una de las principales enfermedades del Protectorado Español de Marruecos y Guinea Española, favorecido por la ocupación del ejército español. Las Campañas antipalúdicas incluyeron estrategias como: uso de Dicloro-difenil-tricloroetano, educación preventiva y quininización masiva. La malariología experimentó un auge creciente en el periodismo especializado. Los autores de mayor presencia en las revistas analizadas fueron Gustavo Pittaluga, Sadí de Buen, Eliseo de Buen y Juan Gil-Collado. CONCLUSIONES: El periodismo español especializado en medicina colonial muestra la importancia e interacción de factores científicos, profesionales, políticos y militares en las campañas antipalúdicas realizadas en España y las colonias africanas. La situación colonial fue negativa y marcó las diferencias entre metrópoli y colonias en cuanto al esfuerzo, eficacia y la diferente secuencia temporal de las medidas emprendidas.

[The road to polio eradication via the Pan American Health Organization]. / El camino hacia la erradicación de la poliomielitis a través de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstruct the activities of the Pan American Poliomyelitis Eradication Program, through documents produced by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) from 1985 to 1994. METHODS: Documents on polio eradication produced from 1985 to 1994, obtained through the publications portal at the official PAHO website, were used as primary sources of information. Documents were categorized by type and their contents studied, revealing their context in the framework of the history of international public health. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty documents were found and categorized as bulletins, resolutions, articles, and books. In 1985, PAHO implemented an initiative to eradicate transmission of wild poliovirus in the Americas by 1990. National commissions, a Technical Advisory Group, cross-border meetings, and other coordination mechanisms were established. Eradication activities were monitored by the International Commission for the Certification of Polio Eradication, using five indicators. The Region of the Americas was officially certified in 1994. CONCLUSIONS: The road to polio eradication in the Region of the Americas was affected by different political, social, and economic circumstances in the different member countries and was not problem-free. Nonetheless, important collaboration agreements were reached and experiences and resources were shared. This led to achieving the final goal before other regions. PAHO played a key role and spearheaded the entire process.

El camino hacia la erradicación de la poliomielitis a través de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud / The road to polio eradication via the Pan American Health Organization

OBJETIVO: Reconstruir las actividades del Programa Panamericano de Erradicación de la Poliomielitis, a través de los documentos generados por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) entre 1985 y 1994 MÉTODOS: Se utilizaron, como fuentes primarias de información, los documentos sobre erradicación de la poliomielitis generados entre 1985 y 1994, a través del portal de acceso de publicaciones de la página oficial de la OPS. Se estableció una clasificación de los documentos y se estudiaron sus contenidos, contextualizándolos en el marco de la historia de salud pública internacional RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 260 documentos clasificados en boletines, resoluciones, artículos y libros. En 1985, la OPS puso en marcha la iniciativa de erradicación de la transmisión del poliovirus salvaje en las Américas para 1990. Se establecieron comisiones nacionales, un grupo técnico asesor, reuniones interfronteras y otros mecanismos de coordinación. El seguimiento de las acciones de erradicación por parte de la Comisión Internacional para la Certificación de la Erradicación de la Poliomielitis se llevó a cabo a través de cinco indicadores; obteniéndose la certificación oficial para la Región de las Américas en 1994 CONCLUSIONES: El camino que condujo a la erradicación de la poliomielitis en la Región de las Américas estuvo condicionado por las diferentes circunstancias políticas, sociales y económicas de los diferentes países integrantes y no estuvo exento de problemas. Aun así, se lograron importantes acuerdos de colaboración e intercambio de experiencias y recursos, que condujeron a alcanzar la meta final antes que otras regiones. La OPS jugó un papel central y lideró todo el proceso.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstruct the activities of the Pan American Poliomyelitis Eradication Program, through documents produced by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) from 1985 to 1994 METHODS: Documents on polio eradication produced from 1985 to 1994, obtained through the publications portal at the official PAHO website, were used as primary sources of information. Documents were categorized by type and their contents studied, revealing their context in the framework of the history of international public health RESULTS: Two hundred sixty documents were found and categorized as bulletins, resolutions, articles, and books. In 1985, PAHO implemented an initiative to eradicate transmission of wild poliovirus in the Americas by 1990. National commissions, a Technical Advisory Group, cross-border meetings, and other coordination mechanisms were established. Eradication activities were monitored by the International Commission for the Certification of Polio Eradication, using five indicators. The Region of the Americas was officially certified in 1994 CONCLUSIONS: The road to polio eradication in the Region of the Americas was affected by different political, social, and economic circumstances in the different member countries and was not problem-free. Nonetheless, important collaboration agreements were reached and experiences and resources were shared. This led to achieving the final goal before other regions. PAHO played a key role and spearheaded the entire process.

The opinions of injecting drug user (IDUs) HIV patients and health professionals on access to antiretroviral treatment and health services in Valencia, Spain.

The benefits of HIV treatment (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy [HAART]) have been less apparent in injecting drug users (IDUs), most probably as a result of poor adherence to treatment. We explored factors related to HIV treatment adherence as reported by 23 IDU-HIV patients and nine health professionals from healthcare services in Alicante and Valencia, Spain. We carried out a qualitative study based on personal interviews. Health professionals reported the lack of coordination among hospital services and difficulties in accessibility to nonspecialized services for IDU-HIV patients as relevant factors for treatment adherence. Their perception of a patient's likelihood of treatment adherence was also considered to influence the decision to prescribe HAART. A better treatment adherence was reported by those IDU-HIV patients with a good doctor-patient relationship and by women with family responsibilities. Patients considered the side effects of HIV treatment, the lack of social support, and the active use of recreational drugs as relevant factors to explain incompliance. Interventions and training of health providers should be aimed at the reduction of barriers in patient-provider communication and the overcoming of stereotypes, thus avoiding discriminatory attitudes in treatment in this vulnerable population.

[Technology, specialization and the public. The creation of a "Leukaemia Clinic" at the Provincial Hospital in Alicante (1953-1960)]. / Tecnología, especialismo y sus audiencias. La "Clinica de Leucemias" del Hospital Provinicial de Alicante (1953-1960).

The mid-20th century opening of a public specialized Clinic for the treatment of patients affected by Leukaemia was a significant event in Alicante. It represented both the beginning of specialization in the field of blood diseases and an opportunity for the Provincial Hospital to enter the world of laboratory research. The social prestige of medical technologies, the introduction of a blood transfusion service and the figure of Dr. Mas Magro were the fundamental reasons behind the birth of this project in spite of its high cost. The aim of the paper is to analyze a case of the development of medical technologies at a local level.

[Science and ideology in studies on human growth in France and Spain (1900-1950)]. / Ciencia e ideología en los estudios sobre crecimiento humano en Francia y en España (1900-1950).

The comparative analysis of human growth studies based on French and Spanish medical literature and other sources published during the first half of the 20th Century allows us to show the ideological uses of a supposedly objective science. Analysis of the writings published in the two countries is an appropriate method to reconstruct the different trends in human growth studies, given the diverse scientific, social, political and ideological variables.

En el nombre de los niños: la real expedición filantrópica de la vacuna (1803-1806) / In the name of the children: the Real Philantropic Expedition of the Vaccine (1803-1806)

Estudio histórico sobre cómo un determinado país en un determinado momento histórico, la España tardoilustrada, afrontó un formidable reto: la eliminación de la viruela en las colonias españolas de Ultramar a través de una medida preventiva, la vacunación antivariólica. (AU)