Objective:
to describe work-related characteristics, hear opinions, report aggressions and estimate the degree of work satisfaction among workers of two state prisons in Avaré, São Paulo, Brazil.
Methods:
cross section epidemiological study, gathering information through anonymous self administered questionnaire. We sought association between work characteristics, opinions and work place aggressions.
Results:
301 subjects were enrolled, mostly men (85.4%) whose ages ranged between 30 and 49 years (61.1%) with a mean job time of 12.9 years. 46.8% worked extra hours, 68.2% reported worksite verbal or physical aggression, and threatening. Being engaged in repressive activities and being in straight contact with prisoners show a significant association with suffering aggressions (x2 = 4.31; p = 0.0038 e x2 = 6.65; p = 0.0099, respectively). Only 27.1% of the interviewed prison workers mentioned the desire of keeping their jobs under the same working conditions. There was an association between job dissatisfaction and aggression (x2 = 5.976: p=0.014).
Conclusion:
this study revealed daily violence that characterizes work in the studied prisons.
Penitentiary work; work satisfaction; worker' health