Prevalence of anxiety and depression in Brazilian Primary Health Care workers

Authors

Keywords:

Occupational Health, Mental Health, Health Personnel, Primary Health Care

Abstract

Introduction: The update of the National Primary Health Care in 2017 brought important setbacks to the Brazilian health system, hindering professional performance and favoring the psychological illness of workers. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in primary health care workers. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 in a large city in the interior of the state of São Paulo. We evaluated 173 professionals from Primary Health Care teams, using a questionnaire with sociodemographic and professional variables; the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Results: Anxiety was present in 45.3% of the professionals, with 25.0% having mild anxiety, 9.9% having moderate anxiety, and 10.5% having severe anxiety. Depression was present in 41.0% of professionals, 28.9% with mild depression, and 12.1% with moderate depression. There was a higher prevalence of anxiety (17.3%) and depression (28.3%) among community health workers and a lower prevalence of anxiety (1.2%) and depression (0.6%) among doctors. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in Primary Health Care professionals, especially in community health workers. Municipal managers should implement measures to care for workers' health, as well as ensure favorable working conditions, to prevent the professionals from becoming ill.

Author Biographies

Rayara de Souza Julio, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Psicólogia, Mestre em Enfermagem e Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande

Luciano Garcia Lourenção, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Enfermeiro, Doutor em Ciências da Saúde. Professor Titular-Livre na Escola de Enfermagem e Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - EEnf/FURG.

Stella Minasi de Oliveira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Enfermeira, Doutora em Enfermagem e Saúde, Docente da Escola de Enfermagem e do Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - EEnf/FURG.

Doris Helena Ribeiro Farias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Enfermeira, Doutora em Enfermagem e Saúde.

Cláudia Eli Gazetta, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto – FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.

Enfermeira, Doutora em Enfermagem em Saúde Pública. Docente do Departamento de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva e Orientação Profissional, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto

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Published

2022-02-19

How to Cite

Julio, R. de S., Lourenção, L. G., Oliveira, S. M. de, Farias, D. H. R., & Gazetta, C. E. (2022). Prevalence of anxiety and depression in Brazilian Primary Health Care workers. Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30, e2997. Retrieved from https://cadernosdeterapiaocupacional.ufscar.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/2997

Issue

Vol. 30 (2022)

Section

Original Article

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