Objective: there is a need to find the relationships between socioeconomic inequality in early childhood and the health impacts on adult life. Latin America is the region with the greatest socioeconomic inequality. which influences health in early childhood and have repercussions that are manifested throughout life. Materials and methods: a bibliographic search was conducted in ClinicalKey, PubMed. SciELO. Google Scholar and Springer. The search and selection criteria were made from the PICOT model. Twenty-five articles and official documents were selected. Results: the socioeconomic inequality that characterizes Latin America injure the most vulnerable populations such as early childhood. Likewise, crucial stages such as growth and neurodevelopment are affected when there are no conditions that allow stimulation through the environment. In addition, early childhood includes a critical stage where the environment will determine significantly in the state of health in adulthood. through the presence of risk factors and the adoption of lifestyles. Conclusions: the regions must understand the situation of socioeconomic inequality of their population and the responsibility that generates in early childhood health, in order to establish social reforms that allow an improvement in living conditions, housing, food, education, access to public services and health care.