FROM THE REDUCTION OF INFANT MORTALITY TO THE COMPLEXIFICATION OF CARE: RECONFIGURATIONS OF CHILD HEALTH CARE IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Child health care in Brazil has undergone profound transformations in recent decades, driven by a significant reduction in infant mortality and the consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS). This process has been accompanied by changes in the epidemiological profile of childhood, marked by a decrease in infectious diseases and an increase in chronic conditions, developmental demands, and psychosocial problems. In this context, this article aims to analyze the reconfiguration of child health care in Brazil, with an emphasis on the role of Primary Health Care in the face of the increasing complexity of child care. This is an integrative literature review, based on the analysis of national and international studies published between 2010 and 2024, selected from relevant scientific databases. The results show that, although advances in reducing infant mortality are undeniable, care models centered on traditional childcare persist, insufficient to meet the contemporary needs of the child population. The literature points to risk stratification, longitudinality, care coordination, and the incorporation of social determinants of health as central elements for the reorganization of healthcare practices. It is concluded that Primary Health Care reaffirms itself as a strategic axis for promoting comprehensive, equitable, and continuous care for children, capable of responding to the challenges posed by the increasing complexity of the child health profile in Brazil.