Occupational health among primary care workers: situational diagnosis

INTRODUCTION: The field of workers’ health within the scope of the Brazilian Unified Health System needs to revitalize its space in terms of coordinating care in primary health care based on social determinants of health. OBJECTIVES: To contextualize and describe the health-related situational diagnosis of primary care workers from the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. METHODS: This was a descriptive, quantitative, and exploratory study conducted at a primary care unit in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceará, from January to March 2019. The study population was composed of 38 health care professionals from the primary care unit. The following questionnaires were applied to obtain the situational diagnosis: the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule and the Occupational Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Most participants were women (89.47%) and community health agents (18,42%). There were negative impacts on health conditions, such as work-related physical and mental discomfort, which was evidenced by sleep problems, sedentary lifestyle, poor access to health care services, and type of physical activity, which difer in terms of function and hierarchical levels in the field of work. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the questionnaires provide useful inputs regarding occupational health through the situational diagnosis and adequately address the health-disease process, as seen in primary care workers. Comprehensive care, comprehensive worker health surveillance, and participatory administration of health services should be optimized.