Social Vulnerability of Brazilian Metropolitan Schools and Teachers' Absence from Work Due to Vocal and Psychological Symptoms: A Multilevel Analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Medeiros, AM (Author) Other; Lobo, MF (Author) FMUP; Vieira, MT (Author) Other; Lia Duarte (Author) FCUP; Carvalho, JPM (Author) Other; Ana Teodoro (Author) FCUP; Claro, RM (Author) Other; Gomes, NR (Author) Other; Freitas A (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Vol. 20

Final page: 2972

ISSN: 1661-7827

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-W5B

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042972

Abstract (EN): Teachers' voices and psychological symptoms are the main reasons for absence from work. The objectives of this study were: (i) to spatially represent, through a webGIS, the standardized rates of teachers' absences due to voice (outcome 1) and psychological symptoms (outcome 2) in each Brazilian Federative Unit (FU = 26 states plus Federal District) and (ii) to analyze the relationship between each national outcome rate and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of the municipality where urban schools are located, adjusted for sex, age, and working conditions. This cross-sectional study comprised 4979 randomly sampled teachers working in basic education urban schools, of which 83.3% are women. The national absence rates were 17.25% for voice symptoms and 14.93% for psychological symptoms. The rates, SVI, and school locations in the 27 FUs are dynamically visualized in webGIS. The multilevel multivariate logistic regression model showed a positive association between voice outcome and high/very high SVI (OR = 1.05 [1.03; 1.07]), whereas psychological symptoms were negatively associated with high/very high SVI (OR = 0.86 [0.85 0.88]) and positively associated with intermediate SVI (OR = 1.15 [1.13; 1.16]), in contrast with low/very low SVI. Being a woman (voice: OR = 1.36 [1.35; 1.38]; psychological: 1.22 [1.21; 1.24]) and working in schools with various precarious conditions (17 variables) increased the odds of being absent due to voice and psychological symptoms. The results confirm the need for investments to improve working conditions in schools.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific