IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 17, Issue 6 Ver. 9 (June. 2018), PP 07-10 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1706090710 www.iosrjournals.org 7 | Page Vulnerable Child: The Doctor Alexandre Frías i Roig (Reus, 1878-1963) Margarita Gonzalvo-Cirac 1 ,Joana Maria Pujadas Mora 2 ,Michel Zabalza 1 , Eduard Prats-Alonso 3 ,Begoña Gonzalvo 4 1 Faculty of Dentistry. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. 2 Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics. Universitat Autonoma Barcelona. 3 Institut Clínic de Reus. Catalunya. 4 Addictions and Dual Diagnosis Unit, Girona. Psychiatry Department. Institut Assistència Sanitària. Public Health Agency of Catalonia. *Corresponding autor: Margarita Gonzalvo-Cirac Abstract: Demographic and Epidemiological Transition, conceptual framework of our research, we propose what happened in Reus (Spain) between 1900 and 1935 (before the Civil War). The province of Tarragona holds the highest life expectancy of all the Spanish provinces, which increased year per year as the century progressed. The evolution of general mortality, infant mortality, and causes of death in the province of Tarragona are analyzed in comparison with Catalonia and Spain. The data used was derived from statistics on deaths classified according to cause of death from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística and the Institut d’Estadistica de Catalunya. This epidemiological study has been performed by groupin g major causes of death; and the methodology used is that of indirect standardization. The results show: that between 1900 and 1935, life expectancy increased about 20 years; and that women’s life expectancy grew more than that of men. Life expectancy improvement for Tarragona is due to the lower incidence of diseases caused by infectious diseases, promoting quality of life through the pioneering efforts of hygienists (mainly between 1910-1920 of Reus), education, high levels of parental literacy, good diet in nutrients, and good weather. Vulnerable Child: the doctor Alexandre Frías i Roig (Reus, 1878-1963) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 30-05-2018 Date of acceptance: 16-06-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction And Theoretical Focus From the Demographic and Epidemiological Transition, conceptual framework of our research, we propose what happened in Reus (Mediterranean town of Spain) between 1900 and 1935 (before the Civil War). Early in the XX century, Reus held the highest life expectancy of all the Spanish cities, which increased year per year as the century progressed. The decline in child mortality was very fast. The association between consumption of dairy products and the risk of developing infectious illnesses is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between different causes (education, higiènic-cultural, nutrition and climate) and high disease infections in a Mediterranean population. Spatial inequalities in human development are of great concern to international organisations and governments. The infant mortality rate is an important measure for determining these inequalities (Bideau, et ali, 1994). Using demographic and epidemiological indicators over long time periods at relatively high levels of geographical detail, we can describe the changes in spatial inequalities (Klüsener, et ali, 2014). To look for causes for this we have studied at micro level. We propose what happened in Reus (Mediterranean town of Spain) between 1900 and 1935 (before the Civil War). Early in the XX century, Reus held the highest life expectancy of all the Spanish cities, which increased year per year as the century progressed. Doctor Alexandre Frias Roig (Gonzalvo-Cirac, 2015), orphaned at age 12, worked while studying to keep younger brothers and sisters. In Barcelona, he studied Medicine and graduated in 1902. He began his career in Ametlla de Mar but then moved to Reus and worked as a Pediatricians. In this period (1900-1935) Reus was the first town the Catalonian after Barcelona. Very concerned about the high rate of infant mortality in the country, he promoted an intense publicity campaign of early childcare for mothers who have just had a child and freely distributed a leaflet entitled Civil Registry Tips for mothers to raise well their children. In 1913, after a study tour to different European countries, he was appointed doctor of the board of trustees of medical department Reus, an institution created to protect children in Reus. In 1917, with the help of patron Evarist Fabregas, Alexander Frias founded the Association of Charity in Reus to help pregnant women. Two years later, in 1919, he created the Institute of Childcare Reus