A Maternidade Júlio Dinis e a sua ligação histórica com a Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto

Abstract

The Júlio Dinis Maternity Hospital was established in Porto in 1938, as part of an initiative to combat the high infant mortality rates that haunted the city at that time. Originating from the celebrations of the First Centenary of the Royal School of Surgery in 1925, and honouring Júlio Dinis, a distinguished professor of the Medical-Surgical School of Porto and a celebrated Portuguese novelist, the Maternity Hospital was pivotal in meeting the healthcare needs of expectant mothers and newborns in the city. Under the guidance of Professor Doctor Alfredo de Magalhães, with strong support from the women of Porto, the initiative received widespread acclaim, contributions, and subsidies, enabling the construction of this commendable healthcare facility. This study, founded on a meticulous collection of testimonies, historical documents, and primary source analysis, unveils the transgenerational impact of the Júlio Dinis Maternity Hospital on the public health landscape and medical education from 1938 to 1959. From the diligent efforts to establish the Maternity Hospital to its eventual separation from the Faculty of Medicine in 1959, this dissertation serves to praise and immortalize the remarkable history of the Maternity, as well as its profound connection with the institution that saw its inception, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto. Additionally, it seeks to honour the individuals who made such an initiative possible, not only through their perseverance but also through their deep altruism and dedication to the cause of maternal and child health.