Science and Public Health in Brazil and Colombia: a comparative study on prophylactic measures in the last epidemics of urban yellow fever (1927-1950)

• Grant number: 11/16675-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Science
• Principal Investigator: Cristina de Campos
• Grantee: Aleidys Hernandez Tasco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A comparative study between Brazil and Colombia in the fight against yellow fever during the years 1927 and 1950 is proposed in this research. In addition, with the aim to find some similarities between these cases, will be focused what were actions taken to the control and eradication of this disease. However, it is important to note that in similar period, both countries had an urban epidemics of disease, occurrence that put in doubt the prophylactic measures recommended and implemented by the organs of Public Health and the Rockefeller Foundation, a philanthropic American institution that took part in the fight against the disease in both countries. Thus, in order to observe what were the scientific advances reported on yellow fever internationally and locally, will be reviewed scientific publications, since Brazilian and Colombian local scientific production contributed to technological and epidemiological advances of the disease, as was the case of viscerotomy invented by Brazilian physicians,and wild yellow fever discovered by Colombian physicians. On the other hand, also will be consulted Decrees and Laws issued by the agencies responsible of public health in each country. This comparative study does not seek to make a generalization of particular actions of the fighting of epidemics. The goal of this research is to confirm the theory about the existence of science in the so-called "periphery", as reported by Marcos Cueto (1989). (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TASCO, Aleidys Hernandez. Limits of scientific convictions: epidemics in Rio de Janeiro and Socorro, and the appearance of the crisis in studies on yellow fever (1927-1948). 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Geociências Campinas, SP.