Prevalence and factors associated with inadequate work ability among community health workers in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais state, Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2018

Abstract

Objective To estimate the prevalence and analyze factors associated with inadequate work ability among community health workers (CHWs). Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted with CHWs, from July to October 2018, in Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil; work ability, sociodemographic, occupational, and clinical factors were investigated; prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using Poisson regression. Results Of the 675 CHWs, 25.8% (95%CI 22.7;29.2) showed inadequate work ability; length of service greater than five years (PR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.24;2.18), poor health status (PR = 2.10; 95%CI 1.56;2.83), depressive symptoms (PR = 1.98; 95%CI 1.54;2.55) and voice disorders (PR = 1.85; 95%CI 1.26;2.73) were associated with the event. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of inadequate work ability, associated with occupational and clinical factors.