“Time to sound the alarm”: provincial life in the conditions of epidemics of the first half of the 1920s (using the example of Volyn-Zhytomyr region)

Abstract

The article examines the problem of the spread of epidemics in the territory of Volyn-Zhytomyr region in the first half of the 1920s as part of a broader social and humanitarian challenge faced by the Soviet government at the stage of stabilization after revolutionary and military turbulence. The features of the epidemiological situation in the region, the nature of infections, the scale of the disease, the activities of Soviet authorities to overcome epidemics, as well as the reaction of the local population to government measures are analyzed. The purpose of this study is a comprehensive study of the epidemiological situation in the territory of Volyn-Zhytomyr region in the first half of the 1920s as a systemic historical and social phenomenon that arose as a result of deep structural changes caused by the First World War, the revolution, and socio-economic destabilization. The research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach, which includes a historical-comparative method for studying the dynamics of the epidemiological situation, a source analysis of statistical summaries and reporting information from health care authorities. Elements of everyday history were also used to reconstruct the reactions and actions of the population in conditions of a medical crisis. The results of the study demonstrate that in the first half of the 1920s, the Volyn-Zhytomyr region became one of the regions of Ukraine most affected by epidemics. The lack of medical personnel, medicines, sanitary infrastructure, the episodic nature of disinfection measures, poor communication between health care structures contributed to the spread of infections. Despite this, the extraordinary measures taken by the authorities, such as the creation of sanitary commissions, vaccination campaigns and educational work among the population, allowed to significantly reduce the level of morbidity by the mid-1920s. An important role in this was played by the self-organization of communities that participated in preventive measures. Conclusions. The experience of Volyn-Zhytomyr region demonstrates that the fight against epidemics in the post-revolutionary period required not only administrative intervention, but also a systemic approach to the organization of medical care, community involvement, educational campaigns, and modernization of sanitary infrastructure. It is shown that the experience of the 1920s is an important historical basis for understanding the interaction between the state and the population during periods of epidemic threat. The study not only deepens our understanding of epidemics as a social phenomenon, but also outlines important lessons for the modern health care system in conditions of mass threats.