[The path taken by social sciences within health in Latin America: review of scientific production].

An analysis was made of the path taken by social sciences within health in Latin America, on the basis of scientific production achieved, especially in Brazil. The work is divided into the following sections: introduction; notes on the origins of the field; scientific reviews; the 1990s and studies on scientific production; previous review articles; and final comments. This study recounts the historical path taken by scientific production, using extensive documentation: bibliographic surveys, bibliographic studies and review articles. The topics surveyed within this field and some data on the professionals who work in these activities are highlighted. In the conclusions, emphasis is given to the great vitality of the field, which in just a few decades has attained importance within the scientific scene.