The most important indicator of the socio-economic well-being of society is the level of protection of childhood and motherhood. During the period of developed socialism, state policy was aimed at improving the quality indicators in this area. Social legislation was supposed to help increase the birth rate and reduce mortality, especially infant mortality. But at the same time, a number of problems persisted: an undeveloped network of medical and preventive institutions; the quality of the provision of preventive, general medical and specialized care.

Taking care of the health and physical development of children was one of the main tasks of preschool institutions and day nurseries. Those with deficiencies in medical care and control over the observance of the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime led to the spread of diseases among children, especially in rural areas.

The article examines the development of children's health care in the Kostanay region in the context of a national framework, but with certain features. The study of local experience contributes to the reconstruction of the general picture of improving the system of children's health care of the Kazakh SSR.