Impacto de la atención primaria en la mejora de la salud materno-infantil y su reducción de la mortalidad en América Latina

Primary Health Care (PHC) stands as the strategic foundation for improving maternal and child health indicators in Latin America, a region where pronounced inequalities continue to limit access to essential healthcare services. In recent years, several countries have implemented interventions aimed at strengthening the first level of care to increase prenatal coverage, ensure institutional childbirth, expand vaccination programs, and enhance child growth monitoring. This systematic review analyzes studies published between 2020 and 2025 to synthesize available evidence on the impact of PHC in reducing maternal and infant mortality. Searches conducted in SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified 53 articles, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria after an evaluation of methodological quality and scientific relevance. The findings demonstrate that strengthening PHC significantly improves continuity of care, reduces territorial gaps, and ensures timely services, particularly in rural and low-resource populations. Moreover, a consistent decline in maternal and infant mortality was observed in countries that adopted comprehensive and community-based PHC models, confirming the effectiveness of this approach in promoting health equity and reinforcing regional health systems. Overall, the evidence underscores the importance of prioritizing sustainable PHC-oriented policies to achieve long-term improvements in maternal and child health across Latin America