Social factors and family protection in the municipalities of Peru: a systematic review

Abstract

Social factors and family protection are essential pillars for the integral development of children and adolescents, as well as for community well-being at the municipal level. In Peru, despite regulatory advances, significant challenges persist in the identification and implementation of these factors in local public policies. This research aimed to analyze the available scientific evidence on social factors and family protection in the municipalities of Peru through a systematic literature review. The PRISMA 2020 protocol was followed for the search, selection, and analysis of articles published in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, Redalyc, and PubMed between 2020 and 2026. Descriptors such as “family risk factors”, “protective factors”, “child development”, “social protection”, and “municipalities” were used. Thirty-seven studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. The findings show that the main risk factors affecting families in Peruvian municipal contexts include socioeconomic vulnerability, low parental education level, dysfunctional family dynamics, and poor housing conditions. The most strongly supported protective factors are a cohesive family environment, sufficient economic income, adequate maternal education, community support networks, and the availability of local social services. Social factors and family protection are determining elements for child development and community well-being in Peruvian municipalities. It is necessary to strengthen local public policies aimed at risk prevention, promotion of protective factors, and intersectoral articulation between health, education, and social services.