Irish and Jewish women's experience of childbirth and infant care in East London, 1870-1939 : the responses of host society and immigrant communities to medical welfare needs
This thesis examines Irish and Jewish mothers' experience of maternity provision and infant care services in East London in the years 1870-1939. As newcomers these immigrants not only had to cope with poverty but also the barriers of language and different cultural customs. Leaving their family and kinship networks behind them, Irish and Jewish mothers had to find new sources of support when incapacitated through pregnancy or childbirth. Living in one of the poorest areas of London and unfamiliar with the local medical and welfare services, these immigrants might be expected to have suffered very poor health. On closer examination, however, Irish and Jewish immigrants appear to have had remarkably low rates of infant and maternal mortality. Despite the difficulties they faced as newcomers, Irish and Jewish mothers had certain advantages over the local population in East London. They were not only able to rely on the prolific and diverse services already present in East London, but could also call upon their own communal organisations. This provision offered a wide range of care and was a vital support to the newcomers. After examining the social and economic background to Irish and Jewish emigration and settlement
Marks, Lara
Irish ; History ; Social conditions ; Jewish women ; Health and hygiene ; Maternal and infant welfare ; Maternal health services ; Women ; England ; London
Irish and Jewish women's experience of childbirth and infant care in East London, 1870-1939 : the responses of host society and immigrant communities to medical welfare needs. This thesis examines Irish and Jewish mothers' experience of maternity provision and infant care services in East London in the years 1870-1939. As newcomers these immigrants not only had to cope with poverty but also the barriers of language and different cultural customs. Leaving their family and kinship networks behind them, Irish and Jewish mothers had to find new sources of support when incapacitated through pregnancy or childbirth. Living in one of the poorest areas of London and unfamiliar with the local medical and welfare services, these immigrants might be expected to have suffered very poor health. On closer examination, however, Irish and Jewish immigrants appear to have had remarkably low rates of infant and maternal mortality. Despite the difficulties they faced as newcomers, Irish and Jewish mothers had certain advantages over the local population in East London. They were not only able to rely on the prolific and diverse services already present in East London, but could also call upon their own communal organisations. This provision offered a wide range of care and was a vital support to the newcomers. After examining the social and economic background to Irish and Jewish emigration and settlement
irish jewish woman_experience childbirth infant care east_london response host society immigrant community medical welfare need examines irish jewish mother experience maternity provision infant care service east_london newcomer immigrant cope poverty also language different cultural custom family kinship network behind irish jewish mother new source support pregnancy childbirth living poor area london unfamiliar local medical welfare service immigrant might_expect poor health close_examination however irish jewish immigrant appear remarkably low rate infant_maternal mortality despite difficulty face newcomer irish jewish mother certain advantage local_population east_london able rely prolific diverse service already present east_london could also call_upon communal organisation provision offer wide_range care vital support newcomer examine social_economic background irish jewish emigration settlement