Public health and traditional medicine in Karelian villages in late XIX -early XX centuries

The problem of public health and folk medicine coexistence in Karelian villages in 1860s-1910 is studied. During this particular period a vigorous attempt to introduce professional state health care system into Karelian peasant households was made. Despite all undertaken efforts, rural residents distrusted professional doctors and paramedics. The population vested its “blind” faith into the omnipotence of local sorcerers and midwives. The low level of medical care extended to the rural population (quite often only one paramedic per seven villages), frequently resulted in deaths, which consequently only strengthened the faith of ordinary people in the powers of witch doctors. People believed that witch doctors were the best “remedy” against all ills. For a long time the state authorities tried to eradicate sorcery in Karelian villages, but to no avail. The culture of contemporary Karelian villages incorporates both traditional medicine and professional care.