The Impact of the English Missionary Society on Improving Medical Conditions and Women’s Health in Kerman

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of the Deptartment of History, Velayat University, Iranshahr, Iran

2 Ph.D. Candidate of History of Iran after Islam, Ferdowsi Mashhad University, Mashhad, Iran

10.30476/rhm.2024.103704.1237

Abstract

The entry of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) of the English Protestant Church into Iran, and the establishment of missionary hospitals in various regions, including Kerman, led to a significant transformation in the development of medical practices. The activities of this society and its hospitals not only improved health and medical care in Kerman but also played a pivotal role in enhancing maternal health and safe childbirth in the region. The physicians at CMS Hospital in Kerman, along with Mrs. Stratton, who served as both a doctor and midwife, utilized modern medical knowledge and practices to save the lives of many mothers and infants during critical childbirth situations. In this context, Stratton authored a work titled Midwifery, which is based on the principles and correct methods of obstetrics. This book was the first work translated into Persian addressing women’s health and obstetrics. The study aims to address the following question: What were the most significant medical actions taken by the CMS regarding women? And which aspects of women’s health did Stratton emphasize most in her book? Findings indicate that the CMS’s initiatives, such as establishing specialized sections for women’s diseases in hospitals and attending to pregnant women, significantly reduced maternal and infant mortality rates. Stratton’s emphasis on women’s health in her book was rooted in a scientific approach, focusing on three key phases: pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum care.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 4
November 2025
Pages 353-362

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