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This article is a literature review on inequalities/inequities in health in Latin America. Scielo and Lilacs databases were reviewed between the years 2000 and 2014. The articles were classified into three categories: mortality and theoretical articles, inequalities in morbidity and self-perception of health condition, and access to health services. We carried out a critical analysis of mortality articles between the years 2007 and 2014, the period with the highest proportion of academic production. More research articles were found in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, especially in universities with emerging collaboration networks. The most used methodologies were theoretical reviews, ecological and cross-section studies, and a prevailing use of the model of social determinants of health of the WHO. The categories used were: social class, economic position, gender, ethnicity/race, and geographical unit. It was concluded that there are gaps between the theoretical discussion and the empirical research, a concentration of production in a few countries, little use of other theoretical approaches, and a need to strengthen collaboration between institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To explore the relationships among social, economic, environmental, and health services determinants of tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality, and to identify the mechanisms that mediate such associations in countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Methods. This was an ecological study of 26 LAC countries that had accurate data available on 38 selected variables for the year 2010. The countries represented 99% of the TB burden in LAC. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify associations among determinants of health and TB morbidity and mortality. Results. TB-HIV coinfection and multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) in previously treated cases were found to be positively associated to TB morbidity and negatively associated to improved basic sanitation and water coverage--pointing to an increase of TB morbidity in the first two variables and a decrease of TB morbidity in the last two. Regarding TB mortality, indigenous people and MDR-TB in previously treated cases were positively associated. In contrast, literacy among women, basic sanitation, water coverage, and nutritional status were negatively associated to mortality, denoting that improvements in these areas could reduce TB mortality. Conclusions. The study findings support intersectoral actions that address social, economic, environmental, and health services determinants within the Stop TB strategy. The mechanisms by which social determinants of health affect current trend outcomes extend beyond medical interventions to control TB, but more research is needed to understand how and to develop actionable recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article presents a historical overview of the concept of social determinants of health, in the perspective of the different theoretical and conceptual contributions provided by some academics of health public discipline. For its purpose, first are recognized some of the public health germ concepts and its relationship with social determinants of health and social welfare. Then, it's looks for the concepts of social determinants into the statements of International Conferences on Health Promotion since Alma Ata. After, synthetically are presented the most recent conceptual contributions since the point of view of the Latin American Movement of Social Medicine, and the more relevant concepts and categories developed from the approach of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health of the World Health Organization. Finally, are addressed a brief discussion and some conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]