Prevalência da capacidade para o trabalho inadequada entre trabalhadores de enfermagem da atenção básica à saúde

Abstract

Context: Work ability is a broad construct that refers to the notion of balance among stress related to the working conditions, the work environment and its tools and worker's wear caused by stress. The Work Ability Index (WAI) was developed to investigate reduction or loss of work ability based on the workers' self-perception of their health and work ability. Objectives: To establish the prevalence and characteristics of inadequate work ability among nursing workers at the primary health care seting in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed with 490 nursing workers from 5 municipalities of Bahia from 2011 to 2012 through application of WAI. Results: The prevalence of inadequate work ability was 17.9%, higher among nurses (18.2%) compared to nursing technicians and assistants (17.7%). The workers from the city of Salvador exhibited the highest prevalence of inadequate work ability (27.7%) and the ones from Feira de Santana the lowest (12.8%). Conclusions: The work ability of nursing workers must be restored, improved, maintained and supported beginning by changes in the workplace and the workers' lives.