[Old and new tasks in social pediatrics]

Area of Science:

• Social pediatrics
• Public health
• Child development

Context:

• Social pediatrics has dramatically reduced infant mortality and eradicated infectious diseases through effective knowledge dissemination and preventive measures.
• Despite advancements, significant childhood morbidity and mortality persist in developing countries, highlighting disparities in healthcare access and social pediatric interventions.
• In industrialized nations, psychosocial diseases have emerged as a primary concern, necessitating specialized social pediatric approaches.

Purpose:

• To underscore the historical success and ongoing importance of social pediatrics in global child health.
• To highlight the contrasting health challenges faced by children in developing versus industrialized nations.
• To advocate for continued social pediatric efforts in addressing emerging psychosocial threats.

Summary:

• Social pediatrics has achieved remarkable success, reducing infant mortality from 30% to under 2% and eradicating certain infectious diseases.
• The field's importance is evident in developing countries where high childhood morbidity and mortality persist, despite comparable clinical pediatric knowledge.
• Industrialized nations face a rise in psychosocial diseases, requiring integrated social pediatric strategies involving pedopsychology and pedagogy to combat issues like juvenile delinquency and drug abuse.

Impact:

• Successfully reduced infant mortality rates and eradicated infectious diseases, demonstrating the power of social pediatrics.
• Provides a framework for addressing persistent health inequities in developing nations.
• Offers essential strategies for managing the growing burden of psychosocial diseases in children and adolescents globally.