Bohuslava Kecková

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Bohuslava Kecková
Born
Bohuslava Josefa Kecková

(1854-03-18)18 March 1854
Bukol, Bohemia, Austrian Empire
(now Czech Republic)
Died17 October 1911(1911-10-17) (aged 57)
Kostomlaty nad Labem, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary
NationalityAustrian
Other namesBohuslava Keck
Occupationphysician
Years active1880–1911

Bohuslava Kecková (18 March 1854 – 17 October 1911) was a

Bohemian lands (now the Czech Republic
) who did earn a secondary diploma and subsequently a medical degree.

Unable to study medicine (closed for women in those times), after completing her secondary education she left Austria-Hungary for study in the University of Zurich and earn a medical degree there in 1880. But after returning home she was unable to obtain an official recognition of her academic degree thus she could not to open a private medical practice for the next 12 years. So she established herself at least in the field of obstetrics. In 1893, at the invitation of the Austro-Hungarian government, she arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina where for the next almost two decades worked in the responsible role of the provincial chief physician for the female part of the population, especially among the local Muslim women. She helped to promote modern medical approaches and procedures in the backward milieu there. From 1900, she also taught health classes at the girls' high school in Mostar and wrote articles on health themes which appeared in Czech women's magazines.

Early life

Bohuslava Josefa Kecková was born on 18 March 1854 in village Bukol (now a part of Vojkovice) in Bohemia, Austrian Empire to Johanna "Jana" (née Kubíčková) and Adolf Kecka.[1][2][3] She was the middle daughter in a family composed of three girls. Her father had inherited a farm, but worked professionally in publishing. During her childhood, the farm was sold and the family moved to Karlín, then eastern suburb of Prague, where her father had a successful construction and building firm.[2][4] Kecková graduated in 1870 with the class award from the Girls' High School of Prague.[2] Because she excelled in her studies, she received a special permit from the Ministry of Culture and Teaching to attend and take exams from the lower gymnasium in Malá Strana quarter and then attended the upper classes at the same school from which she matriculated on 24 July 1874. Her graduation created a sensation, as she was the first woman to earn a secondary schooling diploma in Czech lands.[2][4][5]

That same October, she enrolled in the medical faculty at the University of Zurich, Switzerland,[2] because medical studies were not open to women in Bohemia,[6] where she was joined in 1875 by fellow countrywoman, Anna Bayerová.[2] The two women did not get along well and Bayerová left Zurich before her graduation to finish her schooling in Bern in 1881.[2][6]

In her final year of studies, Kecková was appointed as an assistant in the women's clinic at the

gynecology and midwifery at the medical faculty of the University of Vienna.[2]

Career

After her graduation, Kecková returned to Karlín and opened a practice as a midwife in 1883.

Muslim women, the posts were only open to women.[5] Of the six applicants, Kecková was appointed to serve in Mostar and Polish physician Teodora Krajewska was sent to Tuzla.[8] She arrived on 11 January 1893 in Mostar and was officially accepted as the temporary medical officer. She successfully treated Mufti Ali Effendi Džabiči, a local Muslim leader's wife, overcoming the initial distrust of the local population and her clientele expanded.[8][9] Kecková found conditions which were completely different to what she was used to. Male doctors had to diagnose medical problems without touching their female patients or examining them. Women were kept in seclusion in the harem and knew nothing of hygiene or nutrition, having no access to education.[4]

Kecková combined treatment with health education and wrote articles which she sent back to Bohemia describing her medical rounds, which she made with two assistants and a driver, by rail, horse and finally walking to her patients. Kecková treated the sick, gave them vaccinations, and also presented educational lectures, gathering statistical information about the population.

etiological data on the Bosniaks including customs, diet, housing, lifestyle, population and religious belief, as she was hoping to convey information which would diminish stereotypical prejudices and create an environment that would lead to preventive action for improved education and health.[8] In 1896, the position was made permanent[5][8] and in 1900, she began teaching health at the Girl's High School of Mostar. Her classes included instruction on anatomy and practical nursing.[8] She taught and submitted articles in Croatian.[5] Her articles appeared in Czech newspapers like Ženské listy ("Women's Papers") and Lada on such topics as abusive drinking, malnutrition and tuberculosis from 1897 to 1910.[5]

Death and legacy

As she aged, Kecková had a series of health problems related to diabetes and made frequent trips to Karlovy Vary for recuperation. On one such trip, she cut her trip short and went to visit her sister in Kostomlaty nad Labem, where she died on 17 October 1911.[8]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Birth Registry 1854, p. 101.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mathé-Bída 2012, p. 2.
  3. ^ Bolečková 2012, p. 18.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bobíková 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Charles University 2016.
  6. ^ a b Ládyová 2014.
  7. ^ a b Bolečková 2012, p. 20.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Mathé-Bída 2012, p. 3.
  9. ^ Bolečková 2012, p. 21.

Bibliography

  • Bobíková, Lenka (8 April 2013). "Ženy v bílých pláštích, které své práci obětovaly celý život" [Women in white coats who had to sacrifice for their work all their lives] (in Czech). Prague: I Novinky. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  • Bolečková, Iveta (2012). The complicated way of women for acknowledgement. The women in professional medicine in years 1900–1939 and the reflection of their acceptance in the professional media discursus (bachelor's degree) (in Czech). Pardubice: University of Pardubice. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017. The only title appears in English but the remainder of the document is in Czech.{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Ládyová, Jana (27 March 2014). "První česká lékařka se překážek nezalekla" [The first Czech doctor could not overcome the obstacles]. Ženy-in (in Czech). Prague: Žena-in s.r.o. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  • Mathé-Bída, Terezie Františka (2012). "Ženy s Květem Lilie: Odborná činovnická kvalifikace Myšlenkové základy skautingu a historie" [Women of the Lily: Professional Skills, Qualification, Thought: Basics of Scouting and History] (PDF). Skautsky Institut (Scouting Institute) (in Czech). Prague: Zkušební komise OČK MZH (Executive Board). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  • "Bohuslava Kecková". Albina (in Czech). Prague: Filozofická fakulta,
    Univerzita Karlova. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017. Source citations listed.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link
    )
  • "Hostín u Vojkovic 1840 – 1854: Bohuslava Josefa" [Roman Catholic Birth Registry 1840 – 1854: Bohuslava Josefa]. eBadatelna (in Czech). Prague: Státní oblastní archiv (State Regional Archive). 18 March 1854. p. 101. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
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