Las desigualdades sociales como factor de riesgo en la etiología de caries en niños en América Latina.
Una revisión bibliográfica actualizada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69789/ccs.v12i1.763Keywords:
Salud bucal, Atención dental para niños, Factores socioeconómicos, Caries dental, Educación en salud dental, El SalvadorAbstract
Summary
This literature review examines recent evidence on the social factors associated with the development of oral diseases, especially dental caries, in children in Latin America. Studies from the past five years across several countries in the region were analyzed. The main findings include: maternal factors such as low educational attainment, young age, and a higher number of children are associated with an increased risk of childhood caries; low family income and lower parental education levels correlate with a higher prevalence of caries; limited access to dental services, especially in rural and indigenous areas, negatively impacts oral health; dietary habits such as high sugar consumption are significant risk factors; an association was found between depressive symptoms and poorer oral health-related quality of life in adolescents; and geographic disparities exist, with higher caries rates in rural areas and indigenous communities. It is concluded that social inequalities persist as an important risk factor for childhood caries in Latin America. It is recommended to implement comprehensive interventions that address social determinants, improve access to services, and enhance oral health education, especially in vulnerable populations.
Keywords: oral health, dental care for children, socioeconomic factors, dental caries, dental health education
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Copyright (c) 2026 Carmela Donis, Brenda Nathaly Alfaro, Gabriele Emiliano Verità, Cristina Verità, Elmer Jehovani Portillo Sorto, Ada Maritza Menjívar Dubón
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