Working conditions of indigenous healthcare professionals in the largest Base Center in Brazil

Abstract

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.