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Book Cover
E-book
Author Trafzer, Clifford E., author.

Title Strong hearts & healing hands : Southern California Indians and field nurses, 1920-1950 / Clifford E. Trafzer
Published Tucson : The University of Arizona Press, [2021]

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Description 1 online resource
Summary "In 1924, the United States began a bold program in public health. The Indian Service of the United States hired its first nurses to work among Indians living on reservations. This corps of white women were dedicated to improving Indian health. In 1928, the first field nurses arrived in the Mission Indian Agency of Southern California. These nurses visited homes and schools, providing public health and sanitation information regarding disease causation and prevention. Over time, field nurses and Native people formed a positive working relationship, which resulted in the decline of mortality from infectious diseases. Many Native Americans accepted and used Western medicine to fight pathogens, while also continuing Indigenous medicine ways. Nurses helped control tuberculosis, measles, influenza, pneumonia, and a host of gastrointestinal sicknesses. In partnership with the community, nurses quarantined people with contagious diseases, tested for infections, and tracked patients and contacts. Indians turned to nurses and learned about disease prevention. With strong hearts, Indians eagerly participated in the tuberculosis campaign of 1939-40 to X-ray tribal members living on twenty-nine reservations. Through their cooperative efforts, Indians and health- care providers decreased deaths, cases, and misery among the tribes of Southern California."--Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on March 31, 2021)
Subject Indians of North America -- Health and hygiene -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century
Public health nursing -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century
Public health nurses -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century
HISTORY / General
Public health nursing
Public health nurses
Indians of North America -- Health and hygiene
Southern California
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9780816542987
0816542988
Other Titles Strong hearts and healing hands