Furthering decent work by expanding the role of occupational safety and health.

BACKGROUND: The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations (UN) have promoted the concept of decent work as a Sustainable Development Goal for 2030 to address critical global problems. Occupational safety and health (OSH) are components of decent work, primarily through the ILO social protection objective of the goal, and are linked to various other objectives. OBJECTIVE: This Commentary applies a previously published staging framework to stimulate thinking about how the OSH field can contribute further to the achievement of decent work. METHODS: To advance the contribution of the framework, the different functions of OSH (research, practice, advocacy, governance, and professional education) were used to identify impediments to achieving decent work and develop recommendations for each determinant in the framework. RESULTS: Promoting and achieving decent work are complex issues that require a multifactorial approach. Numerous recommendations supporting systems thinking and transdisciplinary approaches are provided. CONCLUSIONS: The OSH field can expand to further address decent work.

Occupational stressors and mental illness in healthcare work: An intersection between gender, race, and class.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have supported the relevance of using broad and complex approaches, including multiple explanatory categories, to analyze mental disorders in the working population. This study aimed to assess the direct and indirect effects of gender, race, social class, and occupational stressors on mental health. METHODS: A cross-sectional study used a random sample of 3343 health workers. The effort-reward imbalance (ERI) scale measured occupational stressors. The World Health Organization Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) evaluated common mental disorders (CMDs) as outcomes. The role of gender, race/color, and class determinants (level of schooling and income) in the relationship between occupational stressors and CMD was assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to determine associations and effects. RESULTS: Occupational stressors were directly associated with CMD and mediated the relationship between income and CMD. Gender was directly associated with occupational stressors, income, and domestic overload. Race was associated with education and with CMD through indirect paths mediated by class indicators. Class indicators contributed to increasing exposure to occupational stressors and the occurrence of CMD. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the relevance of gender, race/color, and class in understanding the unequal distribution of work stressors and mental illness in health workers.

Stressful work in primary health care and mental health: The role of gender inequities in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the association between occupational stressors, evaluated by the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model (ERI), and the occurrence of common mental disorders (CMD) among healthcare workers (HCW), additionally considering mediation by over-commitment from work (OW) and mediation of gender effects by work stressors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, including a random sample of 3343 HCWs, from six municipalities of Bahia, Brazil. The ERI scale measured the occupational stressors (main exposure), and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to screen for CMD. Data analysis used Structural Equation Modeling techniques to understand the relationships between gender, occupational stressors, and the occurrence of CMD. RESULTS: ERI and OW were associated with CMD. OW mediated the negative effect of ERI on the mental health of HCW. Female workers had higher levels of ERI, OW, and CMD prevalence; the total gender effect on CMD prevalence was mediated by ERI and OW. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the association of work psychosocial stressors and CMD among HCW, including partial mediation by OW. Gender inequalities persisted among HCW, with women most exposed to occupational stressors and CMD. ERI and OW partially mediated the effect of gender on CMD.

Prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns entre idosos residentes em município do Nordeste do Brasil / Prevalence of common mental disorders among elderly residents county in northeast of Brazil / Prevalencia de desórdenes mentales comunes en individuos de tercera edad, residentes en un municipio del Noreste de Brasil

Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns segundo características sociodemograficas e presença de doenças crônicas entre residentes idosos de áreas urbanas de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostra constituída de 562 indivíduos residentes idosos no município de Feira de Santana, 69,6 % do sexo feminino e 30,4 % do sexo masculino com média de idade de 68,93±7,05 anos. Foi utilizado um formulário contendo informações sociodemograficas, doenças referidas, triagem para Transtornos Mentais Comuns (TMC) utilizando o Self Reporting Questionnaire. Para análise estatística foi utilizado à técnica de regressão logística, com o cálculo das razões de prevalência, intervalo de confiança (95 %) e nível de significância p≤0,05. Resultados: A prevalência global de TMC foi 32,1 %. A análise dos dados revelou que características sociodemograficas (idade e renda) estavam associadas à maior prevalência de TMC. Conclusão: O estudo permitiu estimar a prevalência de TMC na população de idosos residentes em um município localizado no nordeste do Brasil e identificar características associadas aos TMC que podem interferir na saúde mental da população estudada. Neste sentido, as políticas de atenção à saúde mental do município devem estar articuladas a políticas de renda mínima para a população idosa.

Objective: Describing the prevalence of commonly occurring mental disorders, according to sociodemographic characteristics and the presence of chronic disease, amongst elderly residents living in urban areas of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Materials and Methods: The study involved a cross-sectional sample consisting of 562 individuals living in the city of Feira de Santana (69.6 % female, 30.4 % male: 68.93±7.05 years old mean age). A questionnaire asking for pertinent sociodemographic information was used, such as diseases, screening for common mental disorders (CMD) using the self-reporting questionnaire. Logistic regressionwas used for statistical analysis; the prevalence ratio, confidence interval (95 %) and p≤0.0 5significance level were calculated. Results: Overall CMD prevalence was 32.1 %. Data analysis revealed that sociodemographic characteristics (age and income) were associated with higher CMD prevalence. Conclusion: This study estimated CMD prevalence in elderly people residing in a municipality in north-eastern Brazil and identified the characteristics associated with CMD which could interfere with the population’s mental health. The city’s mental healthcare policy should be coordinated with minimum income policy for the elderly population.

Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de transtornos mentales comunes según sociodemograficas caracteristicas y las de enfermedades crónicas entre los ancianos residentes en las zonas urbanas de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal de una muestra de 562 ancianos que viven en la cuidad de Feira de Santana, el 69,6% mujeres y 30,4 % varones con una edad media de 68,93±7,05 años. Se utilizó un formulario con información sociodemografica, las enfermedades, la detección de trastornos mentales comunes (TMC). Para el análisis estadístico, la regresión logística, con el cálculo de las tasas de prevalencia, intervalos de confianza (95 %) y el nivel de significación p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: La prevalencia global de CMD fue del 32,1 %. El análisis de datos reveló que las características sociodemográficas (edad e ingresos) se asociaron con una mayor prevalencia de TMC (p≤0,05). Conclusiones: El estudio permitió estimar la prevalencia de CMD en la población de ancianos residentes en un municipio situado en el nordeste de Brasil e identificar las características asociadas con el TMC que puede interferir con la salud mental de la población. En este sentido, la política de atención de salud mental en el municipio debe articularse la política de ingresos mínimos a la población anciana.

[Prevalence of common mental disorders among elderly residents county in northeast of Brazil]. / Prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns entre idosos residentes em município do Nordeste do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: Describing the prevalence of commonly occurring mental disorders, according to sociodemographic characteristics and the presence of chronic disease, amongst elderly residents living in urban areas of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved a cross-sectional sample consisting of 562 individuals living in the city of Feira de Santana (69.6 % female, 30.4 % male: 68.93±7.05 years old mean age). A questionnaire asking for pertinent sociodemographic information was used, such as diseases, screening for common mental disorders (CMD) using the self-reporting questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis; the prevalence ratio, confidence interval (95 %) and p≤0.0 5 significance level were calculated. RESULTS: Overall CMD prevalence was 32.1 %. Data analysis revealed that sociodemographic characteristics (age and income) were associated with higher CMD prevalence. CONCLUSION: This study estimated CMD prevalence in elderly people residing in a municipality in north-eastern Brazil and identified the characteristics associated with CMD which could interfere with the population's mental health. The city's mental healthcare policy should be coordinated with minimum income policy for the elderly population.

[Labor and health conditions of private school teachers in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil]. / Condições de trabalho e saúde dos professores da rede particular de ensino de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil.

The scientific literature on teachers' health is scarce, recent, and focuses predominantly on stress and burnout. This study describes the labor conditions of private school teachers in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia State, Brazil. Information on 250 teachers from the ten largest schools in the municipality was collected through a self-applied questionnaire. The most relevant characteristics of teachers' work, evaluated by the Job Content Questionnaire were: speed of work, creativity at work, and relations with colleagues. The most frequent complaints related to posture, mental strain, and voice problems. Prevalence of minor psychological disorders according to the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 was 41.5%, strongly associated with long periods of intense concentration on the same job and excessive work. Results suggest an association between the prevalence of minor psychological disorders and certain characteristics of teaching work, emphasizing teachers' exposure to stress.

Condições de trabalho e saúde dos professores da rede particular de ensino de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil / Labor and health conditions of private school teachers in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil

A literatura científica sobre a saúde dos professores é escassa e recente, enfocando especialmente o desgaste e estresse. Este trabalho objetivou descrever as condições de trabalho e saúde dos professores da rede particular de ensino da cidade de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil. Num questionário auto-aplicado foram coletadas informações de 250 professores de dez escolas. Entre as características do trabalho docente, avaliadas pelo Job Content Questionnaire, destacaram-se ritmo acelerado de trabalho, ser criativo e ter boas relações com as pessoas no trabalho. As queixas de saúde mais freqüentes estavam relacionadas à postura corporal, à saúde mental e a queixas relacionadas à voz. A prevalência de distúrbios psíquicos menores (DPM), medida pelo Self Reporting Questionnaire-20, foi de 41,5 por cento e estava fortemente associada a longos períodos de intensa concentração em uma mesma tarefa e volume excessivo de trabalho. Os resultados sugerem relação entre a prevalência de DPM e algumas características do trabalho docente, evidenciando desgaste psicológico do educador.

[Work psychosocial aspects and psychological distress among nurses]. / Aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e distúrbios psíquicos entre trabalhadoras de enfermagem.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between psychological demand and job control and demand with psychological distress among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 502 female nurses working in a public hospital at the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil. The Demand-Control Model proposed by Karasek to evaluate the association between job control-demand and psychological distress was adopted. The SRQ-20 was used to measure psychological distress. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychological distress was 33.3%, ranging from 20.0% among lady nurses to 36.4%, among nurse assistants. Strong dose-response gradients were observed between demand and psychological distress and the negative association between job control and psychological distress. Prevalence of psychological distress was higher (PR=2.6; 95% CI: 1.81-3.75) among professionals in high-strain jobs (high demand, low control) when compared to professionals in low-strain jobs (low demand, high control), after adjustment by potential confounders in a logistic multiple regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings reinforce the relevance of intervening in the organizational structure in order to increase control upon job and adjust the levels of psychological demands.

Aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e distúrbios psíquicos entre trabalhadoras de enfermagem / Work psychosocial aspects and psychological distress among nurses

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associaçäo entre demanda psicológica e controle sobre o trabalho e a ocorrência de distúrbios psíquicos menores entre trabalhadoras de enfermagem. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, incluindo 502 trabalhadoras de enfermagem de um hospital público de Salvador, Bahia. O Modelo Demanda-Controle, de Karasek, foi utilizado para avaliar as dimensöes psicossociais estudadas. Para mensuraçäo de distúrbios psíquicos menores (DPM), utilizou-se o SRQ-20. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de DPM foi 33,3por cento, variando de 20,0por cento entre enfermeiras a 36,4por cento entre auxiliares. Observou-se nítido gradiente tipo dose-resposta de associaçäo positiva entre demanda psicológica e DPM, e associaçäo negativa entre controle sobre o trabalho e DPM. A prevalência de DPM foi mais elevada (RP=2,6; IC95por cento: 1,81-3,75) no quadrante de trabalho em alta exigência (alta demanda, baixo controle), quando comparado às profissionais em trabalho de baixa exigência (baixa demanda, alto controle), depois de ajustado, num modelo de regressäo logística múltipla, por potenciais confundidores. CONCLUSOES: Os achados reforçam a relevância da adoçäo de medidas de intervençäo na estrutura organizacional, de modo a elevar o controle sobre o trabalho e redimensionar os níveis de demanda psicológica

Condiçöes de trabalho e saúde de professores da rede particular de ensino Salvador, Ba / Working contitions and health of teachers from private schools of Salvador, Bahia

Foi realizado um estudo epidemiológico transversal com o objetivo de identificar possíveis associaçöes entre condiçöes de trabalho e saúde de professores da rede particular de ensino. Para a coleta de informaçöes foi utilizado um questionário padronizado, respondido pelo próprio professor. Foram estudadas 58 escolas e 573 professores. As características mais freqüentes referidas por professores sobre suas condiçöes de trabalho foram: esforço físico elevado, exposiçäo ao pó de giz, fiscalizaçäo contínua do desempenho e ritmo acelerado de trabalho. As queixas de doenças mais freqüentes foram: dor na garganta, dor nas pernas, dor nas costas, rouquidäo e cansaço mental. As características do trabalho associadas estatisticamente às queixas de doença foram, em ordem decrescente: salas inadequadas, trabalho repetitivo, exposiçäo ao pó de giz, ambiente de trabalho estressante, ritmo acelerado de trabalho, desempenho das atividades sem materiais e equipamentos adequados e posiçäo de trabalho incômoda.