ABSTRACT
Objective
To analyze indicators of pleasure and suffering at work associated with depression and anxiety among community health workers (CHW).
Methods
Crosssectional study in which the dependent variables were the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms, assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The independent variables were evaluated using the Scale of Indicators of Pleasure and Suffering at Work (EIPST) of the Inventory of Work and Risks of Illness (ITRA). Associations between dependent and independent variables were tested using multinomial logistic regression.
Results
675 CHW participated in the study, the majority being women (83.7%), aged up to 40 years (51.3%). The chances of presenting anxiety symptoms were higher among effective CHW (OR=1.61; 95%CI: 1.10-2.36), and critical or severe assessments in the achievement factors (Critical OR=1.87; 95%CI: 1.30-2.68; Severe OR=4.16; 95%CI: 2.06-8.40) and professional exhaustion (Critical OR=2.60; 95%CI: 1.78-3.80; Severe OR=3.97; 95% CI: 2.53-6.21). Female gender (OR=2.12; 95%CI: 1.03-4.40), age up to 40 years (OR=1.74; 95%CI: 1.05-2.89), length of service greater than five years (OR=1.88; 95%CI: 1.18-2.99), critical or severe ratings on achievement factors (Critical OR=2.53; 95%CI: 1.55-4.10; Severe OR= 6.07; 95%CI: 2.76-13.38), professional exhaustion (Critical OR=5.21; 95%CI: 2.30-11.80; Severe OR=15.64; 95%CI: 6.53 -37.44) and lack of recognition (Critical OR=1.93; 95%CI: 1.13-3.28) were associated with greater chances of depressive symptoms.
Conclusions
Despite being a cross-sectional study, which does not allow inferring causality, the findings suggest an important association between the work aspects of the CHW and the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Female gender and being 40 years old or younger also showed a relationship with increased symptoms of depression.
Community health worker; occupational health; depression; anxiety; patient health questionnaire