Abstract
<jats:p>The research aims to identify the characteristics of the organization of obstetric and gynecological care in the Chkalov Region as a rear region during 1941-1945 and to assess their impact on the state of maternal and child healthcare. Using archival materials, this article examines changes in the network of maternity hospitals and departments in the city and rural areas, maternal and infant mortality rates, and the dynamics of legal, extra-hospital, and illegal abortions. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive examination of the structure of obstetric care and abortion practices within a single region, which allows for a more precise understanding of the actual functioning of Soviet maternal and child health policy during the war. It has been established that by maintaining and expanding the urban network while simultaneously reducing the rural network, it was possible to maintain a low maternal mortality rate. At the same time, an increase in extra-hospital abortions was observed, which intensified threats to women’s health.</jats:p>