The article discusses the social and health situation of miners’ children in Leše coalmine near Prevalje in
the 19th and early 20th century within the socio-economic context of Prevalje and Leše in the Mežica valley
of Carinthia. The economic impact on the social and health situation of miners’ children in the early 20th
century is demonstrated through the 1929 study by a local teacher Karel Doberšek entitled »The role of
social situation in child development in Prevalje«. Data analysis of Leše fraternal fund members reveals the
structure of miners’ families, in particular the number of children and their survival rate until 14 years of
age. This data is supplemented by that from the death register of Devica Marija na jezeru parish in Prevalje
which reveals the causes of child deaths in miners’ families.