# Social determination in the health of children born preterm: a scoping review

**Authors:** Mariana Fuentes Mendoza Rodrigues Soares, Amanda de Azevedo Gomes, Juliana Barony da Silva, Luciano Marques dos Santos, Patrícia Pinto Braga, Elysângela Dittz Duarte, Mariana Fuentes Mendoza Rodrigues Soares, Amanda de Azevedo Gomes, Juliana Barony da Silva, Luciano Marques dos Santos, Patrícia Pinto Braga, Elysângela Dittz Duarte, Mariana Fuentes Mendoza Rodrigues Soares, Amanda de Azevedo Gomes, Juliana Barony da Silva, Luciano Marques dos Santos, Patrícia Pinto Braga, Elysângela Dittz Duarte

PMC · DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.7720.4605 · Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem · 2025-07-11

## TL;DR

This review maps how social factors affect the health of preterm children in their first two years of life.

## Contribution

It identifies gaps in research on social determinants and highlights the need for integrated approaches in future studies.

## Key findings

- Most studies focus on individual characteristics like health conditions and hereditary factors.
- Child development is the most explored health dimension, while behavior and living conditions are under-researched.
- There is a need for more integrated research on social determinants to improve early interventions for preterm children.

## Abstract

to map scientific knowledge on the dimensions of the Social Determinants of Health in the health of children born preterm in the first two years of life.

this is a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. From the studies found in five databases and the reference list of those selected, data was extracted using a coding tool based on the Social Determinants of Health theoretical model with the support of the MaxQDA software.

31 publications were included. The most investigated dimensions of the social determinants of children’s health were related to the characteristics of the individual, with emphasis on health conditions and age, sex, and hereditary factors, highlighting the search for factors that have a direct impact on children’s health.

the dimensions of child health most explored were those related to child development. Behavior and living conditions were little investigated. Future studies with a broader approach to the Social Determinants of Health in an integrated way could contribute to the development of care centered on premature infants and early interventions concerning child health outcomes.

(1) Studies highlight the influence of individual characteristics on child health. (2) Social determinants interfere with development and the demand for health services. (3) There are gaps in the investigation of SDH and their effects on child health. (4) The need to address the Social Determinants of Health in an integrated manner.

mapear o conhecimento científico sobre as dimensões dos Determinantes Sociais de Saúde na saúde de crianças nascidas pré-termo nos primeiros dois anos de vida.

trata-se de uma scoping review orientada pelo Joanna Briggs Institute e pelo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Dos estudos encontrados em cinco bases de dados e lista de referência daqueles selecionados, foram extraídos os dados aplicando-se um instrumento de codificação elaborado a partir do modelo teórico Determinantes Sociais de Saúde com apoio do software MaxQDA.

foram incluídas 31 publicações. As dimensões dos determinantes sociais para a saúde da criança mais investigados foram relacionadas às características do indivíduo, com destaque para as condições de saúde e idade, sexo e fatores hereditários, realçando a busca por fatores de repercussão direta na saúde infantil.

as dimensões da saúde da criança mais exploradas foram as relacionadas ao desenvolvimento da criança. O comportamento e as condições de vida foram pouco explorados. Futuros estudos com uma abordagem ampliada dos Determinantes Sociais de Saúde de forma integrada poderão contribuir para a elaboração de cuidados centrados nos prematuros e intervenções precoce frente aos desfechos de saúde infantil.

(1) Estudos destacam a influência das características individuais na saúde infantil. (2) Determinantes sociais interferem no desenvolvimento e nas demandas por serviços de saúde. (3) Verificam-se as lacunas na investigação dos DSS e seus efeitos na saúde infantil. (4) Necessidade de abordar os Determinantes Sociais de Saúde de forma integrada.

mapear el conocimiento científico sobre las dimensiones de los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud en la salud de niños nacidos pretérmino en los primeros dos años de vida.

se trata de una scoping review orientada por el Joanna Briggs Institute y por el Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. De los estudios encontrados en cinco bases de datos y en la lista de referencias de aquellos seleccionados, se extrajeron los datos aplicando un instrumento de codificación elaborado a partir del modelo teórico de los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud con el apoyo del software MaxQDA.

se incluyeron 31 publicaciones. Las dimensiones de los determinantes sociales para la salud infantil más investigadas estuvieron relacionadas con las características del individuo, destacándose las condiciones de salud, edad, sexo y factores hereditarios, lo que resalta la búsqueda de factores con repercusión directa en la salud infantil.

las dimensiones de la salud infantil más exploradas fueron las relacionadas con el desarrollo del niño. El comportamiento y las condiciones de vida fueron poco explorados. Futuros estudios con un enfoque ampliado de los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud de forma integrada podrán contribuir a la elaboración de cuidados centrados en los prematuros y a intervenciones tempranas frente a los desenlaces de la salud infantil.

(1) Estudios destacan la influencia de las características individuales en la salud infantil. (2) Los determinantes sociales interfieren en el desarrollo y en la demanda de servicios de salud. (3) Se constatan las brechas en la investigación de los DSS y sus efectos en la salud infantil. (4) Se requiere abordar los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud de manera integrada.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SDS (serine dehydratase) [NCBI Gene 10993] {aka SDH, hSDH}, PMP22 (peripheral myelin protein 22) [NCBI Gene 5376] {aka CIDP, CMT1A, CMT1E, DSS, GAS-3, GAS3}
- **Diseases:** respiratory distress syndrome (MESH:D012128), Post-Traumatic Stress (MESH:D013313), chronic lung disease (MESH:D029424), delayed fine motor skills (MESH:D019957), fatigue (MESH:D005221), neglect (MESH:D058069), Retinopathy of Prematurity (MESH:D012178), anxiety (MESH:D001007), abuse (MESH:D019966), surfactant deficiency (MESH:C580477), Respiratory changes (apnea, respiratory disease, respiratory problem (MESH:D012140), Living Condition (MESH:D020763), impaired socio-emotional, cognitive, and motor development (MESH:D003072), leucomalacia (MESH:D007969), prematurity (MESH:C536271), Social (OMIM:300082), ROP (MESH:C536382), depression (MESH:D003866), UTIN (MESH:D007232), neurodesarrollo infantil (OMIM:271245), auditory (MESH:D006311), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (MESH:D001997), language delay (MESH:D007805), Social Condition (MESH:D000067404), preterm birth (MESH:D047928), delayed neurodevelopment (MESH:D006968), gastrointestinal infections (MESH:D005767), malnutrition (MESH:D044342)
- **Chemicals:** alcohol (MESH:D000438), Se (MESH:D012643), cefalico (-)
- **Species:** Nicotiana tabacum (American tobacco, species) [taxon 4097], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** P724A

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## References

64 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12259221/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12259221