BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC HEALTH: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, CARE PRACTICES, AND STOMATOGNATHIC SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as an essential practice for promoting maternal and child health, providing benefits that go beyond the nutritional dimension and encompass functional, structural, and social aspects. This study aimed to analyze breastfeeding from a public health perspective, exploring the interactions between social determinants of health, care practices, and the development of the stomatognathic system. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases, considering publications between 2016 and 2026. The search resulted in 224 studies, of which 13 comprised the final sample after applying eligibility criteria. The results showed that breastfeeding plays a fundamental role in neuromuscular and craniofacial development, contributing to the prevention of malocclusions and oral dysfunctions. It was also observed that factors such as education level, income, working conditions, and access to health services directly influence breastfeeding practices, constituting important social determinants. In addition, the early introduction of artificial feeding methods was associated with alterations in the development of the stomatognathic system. It is concluded that breastfeeding should be understood as a multidimensional phenomenon, whose promotion requires interdisciplinary approaches and effective public policies aimed at reducing health inequities and strengthening comprehensive child care.
Author Biographies
Dentist, Master’s degree in Dental Sciences.
Master’s student in Dental Sciences – UFPI.
Postgraduate in Dermatological Nursing and Stomatherapy.
Nursing student.
Dentist.
Dentist, postgraduate degree in Endodontics.
Dentist, Master’s degree in Dentistry.
Cirurgião-dentista, especialista em Saúde Coletiva.
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