Traumatismo en pediatría y su relación con los determinantes sociales de la salud

Abstract

Background: Trauma represents in Chile and in the world, the major cause of death in children, adolescents and young adults; and is one of the most important causes of morbidity. It is a significant public health problem, because its consequences are transcendental in magnitude and impact. Objective: To identify the Social Health Determinants (SHD) that impact trauma in children, describe the relationship between the SHD identified, and propose comprehensive strategies to lessen the impact. Methods: A literature review was made from Medline/Pubmed, Lilacs, ProQuest, Cinhal and Scielo, between October 2011 and January 2012. Selected for analysis were 15 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Results: The SHD that are related to the incidence and severity of trauma in children are: education and literacy, socioeconomic status, and physical environment. These can cause a positive or negative impact on the health of children with regard to morbidity and mortality from external causes. Conclusion: To reduce the trauma of children in Chile, it is essential to educate the population. Educational programs should be designed and implemented by multidisciplinary teams in coordination among sectors, taking into account the social determinants of health involved, such as low educational level, low socioeconomic status and inadequate physical environment; also considering the ability of people to access and understand the information given by health professionals. © Servicio de Publicaciones - Universidad de Murcia.