This study aimed to investigate and to compare the working conditions of Indigenous healthcare professionals in the largest Base Center in Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with all the healthcare professionals (N = 124) of the Dourados Base Center, Mato Grosso do Sul State, in 2020 who performed direct care in the territory, by a semi-structured questionnaire, with sociodemographic, economic, and work questions. The statistical analyses were performed by Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, with a 5% significance level. The professionals working in the fixed teams had a higher frequency of taking work home (p = 0.047) and work on the weekend hindered rest (p = 0.018) when compared to the mobile teams. Workers with shorter service time reported higher work overload (p = 0.022), taking work home and working on the weekend, whereas professionals with longer service time reported more work accidents (p = 0.004). indigenous healthcare and sanitation agents worked more on weekends (p < 0.001) and had more problems with service users (p = 0.021). Regardless of the categories studied, most professionals presented insecurity with labor ties (72.5%), lack of job and career plan (86.3%), weekend work (78.6%), occurrence of health risks (78.6%), accidents (65%), witnessed (73.2%) and suffered (54.7%) violence in the work environment, late payment (95.7%), and wage dissatisfaction (86.4%). Therefore, more investments and professionals in Indigenous healthcare become essential for developing better working conditions.
Keywords:
Indigenous Peoples; Health Personnel; Occupational Accidents; Workplace Violence; Primary Health Care