Work overload and mental health impacts on community health workers during the pandemic.
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| Title: | Work overload and mental health impacts on community health workers during the pandemic. |
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| Alternate Title: | Sobrecarga de trabajo e impactos en la salud mental de agentes comunitarios de salud en tiempos de pandemia. Sobrecarga de trabalho e impactos na saúde mental dos agentes comunitários de saúde em tempos de pandemia. |
| Authors: | Santos, Thyago Henrique Pereira1 thyagohps@gmail.com, Cavalcanti, Luciano Pamplona de Góes1 pamplona.luciano@gmail.com, Ribeiro, Kelen Gomes1 kelengomesr@yahoo.com.br, Almeida Bastos, Maria Luiza1 mluiza@alu.ufc.br, Monteiro Ferreira, Marcelo José1 marceloferreira@ufc.br |
| Source: | Interface - Comunicação, Saúde, Educação. 2025, Vol. 29, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subject Terms: | *COVID-19 pandemic, *Health education, Community health workers, Mental health, Industrial hygiene, Primary health care, Personal protective equipment, Job stress |
| Abstract (English): | The aim was to analyze the perceptions of Community Health Workers (CHWs) regarding the aspects related to workload burden and its impacts on mental health within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a Case Study conducted with 37 CHWs in the municipality of Fortaleza. We adopted Discourse Analysis, highlighting four key categories: work process; workload burden; impacts on mental health; and health education activities. Changes in the work process of CHWs caused by the COVID-19 have negatively impacted the mental health of these professionals. Among the factors, exhausting work schedules, increased occupational exposure to biological risks and insufficient Personal Protective Equipment and challenges to implement health education in communities. It’s essential to develop effective actions within the scope of Occupational Health Surveillance for CHWs. After all, their commitment to defending the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) and strengthening PHC is unquestionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Spanish): | Analizar las percepciones de los Agentes Comunitarios de Salud (ACS) sobre aspectos relacionados a la sobrecarga laboral y sus impactos en la salud mental en contexto de la pandemia COVID-19. Estudio de Caso realizado con 37 ACS de ciudad de Fortaleza. Adoptamos el Análisis del Discurso, destacando cuatro categorías teóricas: proceso de trabajo; sobrecarga de trabajo; impactos en salud mental; actividades de educación sanitaria. Los cambios en el proceso de trabajo de los ACS provocados por la pandemia de COVID-19 tuvieron un impacto negativo en la salud mental dos ACS. Destacaron: jornadas laborales agotadoras, exposición a riesgos biológicos e insuficientes Equipos de Protección Personal y desafíos para implementar la educación para salud en las comunidades. Para os ACS son necesarias acciones de Vigilancia de la Salud Ocupacional. Después de todo, su compromiso con el Sistema Brasileño de Salud (SUS) y la APS es incuestionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Portuguese): | Objetivou-se analisar as percepções dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) sobre os aspectos relacionados à sobrecarga de trabalho e seus impactos na saúde mental no contexto da pandemia da Covid-19. Estudo de Caso realizado com 37 ACS no município de Fortaleza. Adotamos a Análise de Discurso, destacando quatro categorias-chave: processo de trabalho; sobrecarga de trabalho; impactos na saúde mental; atividades de educação em saúde. Mudanças no processo de trabalho dos ACS provocadas pela pandemia da Covid-19 impactaram negativamente na saúde mental destes profissionais. Dentre os principais fatores, destacaram-se: jornadas exaustivas de trabalho, maior exposição aos riscos biológicos, insuficiência de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual e desafios para implementar educação em saúde nas comunidades. São necessárias ações efetivas de Vigilância em Saúde do Trabalhador para esta categoria profissional. Afinal, é inquestionável o seu compromisso com o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e com a APS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| Abstract: | The aim was to analyze the perceptions of Community Health Workers (CHWs) regarding the aspects related to workload burden and its impacts on mental health within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a Case Study conducted with 37 CHWs in the municipality of Fortaleza. We adopted Discourse Analysis, highlighting four key categories: work process; workload burden; impacts on mental health; and health education activities. Changes in the work process of CHWs caused by the COVID-19 have negatively impacted the mental health of these professionals. Among the factors, exhausting work schedules, increased occupational exposure to biological risks and insufficient Personal Protective Equipment and challenges to implement health education in communities. It’s essential to develop effective actions within the scope of Occupational Health Surveillance for CHWs. After all, their commitment to defending the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) and strengthening PHC is unquestionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 14143283 |
| DOI: | 10.1590/interface.250143 |
