History of the health notebook in France: A stake for mothers, doctors and state

Abstract

The Health Notebook is a booklet distributed in France to mothers to take notes about the growth and the health accidents of their child. Those physicians who first took this initiative thought that mothers would be the best link between themselves and the health babies. The most ancient example discussed here came from a Montpellier medical doctor (1869). Many other initiatives followed until the Second World War. At the beginning of the 20th century, public health authorities became interested in this booklet, as an instrument of control of the population health. The idea to make this health notebook compulsory was implemented in 1945. Since 1970 it includes three health certificates signed by a physician. Therefore, the health notebook has become a stake for families, doctors and State.