Emigrazione italiana nel Nuovo Mondo tra Ottocento e inizio Novecento: aspetti sanitari e sociali, riflessioni etiche

From a social, demographic, and economic perspective, emigration undoubtedly represents one of the most significant events that shaped the landscape of the Italian nation from the late Nineteenth century to the interwar period of the twentieth century, and even beyond. The study of health-related issues associated with emigration abroad offers multiple avenues of investigation, ranging from hygienic-epidemiological aspects to those of health legislation and organization, as well as social and humanitarian perspectives. In this context, transoceanic emigration serves as a privileged vantage point, as the sea voyage, confined within the restricted environment of steamships, alongside the implementation of surveillance regulations, allowed for the collection of valuable data regarding the health status of Italian migrants. When considering the range of morbid conditions observed during the crossings, a significant portion was attributed to accidental causes, the normal occurrence of common diseases found in any population, or the spread of ordinary epidemic diseases (such as influenza, measles, and similar illnesses), which were exacerbated by overcrowded conditions and poor hygiene. The differential morbidity and mortality rates during emigration and repatriation journeys clearly reflect the variations in health status, often resulting from living conditions in the destination country, the effects of which were brought back to Italy by returning migrants.