Abstract

ASSUNTA BUSATO, Maria et al. Brazilian scientific production about the dimensions of vulnerability and child health. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2016, vol.42, n.3, pp. 459-469. ISSN 0864-3466.

Vulnerability is an indicator of social inequity and inequality and should take into account the dimensions related to the individual and its social place. The objective was to present the Brazilian scientific production on vulnerability and child health and to underline relevant topics for public health practice. A comprehensive review of articles published from January 2003 to May 2013 was made in the data bases of the Virtual Library of Health database/BIREME. The single term ¨vulnerability¨and the keyword ¨child health¨were used. Both terms were then crossed, selecting ¨comprehensive method¨, ¨all the indexes¨ and ¨all the sources¨. The five selected articles showed reflections on the individual vulnerability, stressed the child as a human being in incipient process in the world, in development phase, and in physical, mental, cognitive, emotional and affectionate development. They also referred social vulnerability, the contextual factors and the insults to child´s health, and the programmatic vulnerability of the child associated to health action planning and management. It is then concluded that shortage of articles shows weaknesses in research studies on the topic, which has an impact on the available knowledge about the care dimensions. The findings allow approaching vulnerability to the family, economic, community and political complex where the child is involved and point out the intervention possibilities that may qualify the care of and attention to this population group.

Keywords : Vulnerability; child health; review.

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