Objective

To analyse the health and welfare activities carried out by social health visitors and rural health advisors of the Women’s Section (in Spanish: Sección Femenina, S.F.) in the city of Valencia.

Materials and method

This study combined a qualitative and quantitative approach. A literature search was conducted to identify studies related to the history of nursing and the activities of the Women’s Section during the first stage of the Franco regime. The main source of information consulted was the collection of files deposited in the Archives of the Kingdom of Valencia (Spanish initials: A.R.V), the Inventory of the Women’s Section (Spanish initials: S.F.I.) (1940-1977), concerning the activities carried out by this organisation in the city of Valencia, as well as the reports submitted by nurses to their local directors and by these to the national director.

Results

The activities carried out had ideological and political nuances and were related to four areas of action: health, society, health education and religion. Particular importance was given to the fight against infant mortality, within the context of the pro-birth policies of the first stage of the Franco regime. However, these activities declined over the period studied due to a lack of professional resources and incentives, together with the Women’s Section’s loss of political influence.

Conclusions

The findings underscore the complexity of the functions assigned to social health visitors and health advisors within the Women’s Section, and also demonstrate the influence exerted by the socio-political and ideological context on the performance of these same functions.

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