Madres y enfermeras: el modelo de cuidados a la infancia en la colección «Al servicio de España y del niño español» (1938-1964)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the discourse of the Franco regime aimed at the female population, especially mothers and nurses, regarding infant care. Methods: A content analysis was carried out of monographs on infant care included in the collection “At the service of Spain and Spanish children” (1938-1964), published by the Home Office. Discussion and conclusions: The Franco regime condemned the practice of women working outside the home and promoted pro-natalist policies. Women were considered ignorant and thus responsible for the high rates of infant mortality. Action was aimed at educating all women (who would one day be mothers) in child care. An education in childcare was compulsory for all girls, at all levels. Breast feeding was encouraged through a discourse of guilt (a mother who did not breastfeed was only half a mother). However, in spite of all these pro-natalist initiatives, social reality intervened and birth rates fell, as did infant mortality due to improved living conditions, whilst at the same time there was a marked increase in the practice of bottle feeding and women working outside the home.