["Bread from stone and spiritual uplift for illiterates"--paternalistic community health promotion 200 years ago].
Some of the early pioneers of community health promotion in Norway were clergymen. One of these "potato priests", as they often are referred to, was the Rev. Niels G.A. Dahl (1778-1852) in Gulen, a poor rural district in western Norway. In a spirit of paternalism he engaged in many non-religious activities promoting the lives and health of his congregation. He engaged in vaccination, medical treatment, control of infectious diseases and provision for the poor, hired a midwife, struggled hard against heavy liquor drinking among locals and promoted primary education. This article highlights Dahl's contributions to community health promotion. Effective community health promotion depends on local knowledge, as well as local authority, influence and personal engagement. Maybe a dose of the paternalistic spirit is called for also in today's health promotion?
Breidablik
Hans-Johan
HJ
Kommunelegekontoret i Sula 6030 Langevåg. hans.breidablik@sula.kommune.no
D002977:Clergy / Q000266:history; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000266:history*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D026706:Paternalism; D011203:Poverty / Q000266:history; D011634:Public Health / Q000266:history; D012940:Social Problems / Q000266:history