Disfonia e condições de trabalho das professoras da rede municipal de ensino de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Introduction: Voice disorder affects several occupational groups. Some studies have found higher risk of vocal symptom reports among teachers when compared to other occupational groups as well as to the general population. Studies focusing on issues related to the process of the teaching profession, their effects on teachers health and the possible associations with their working conditions are recent. This research combines a study of the profile of teachers on leave due to voice problems with an inquiry on the referred vocal morbidity. Objectives:To learn about the profile of teachers under definitive functional readaptation due to voice disorders, to determine prevalence and factors associated to voice disorders in day-shift public primary school teachers and the association with factors related to the teaching profession.Materials and Methods: Between January/1996 and May/2004, a descriptive study of secondary data was developed referring to the socio-demographic-occupational profile of teachers in readaptation due to voice disorder registered at the Gerência de Saúde do Servidore Perícia Médica GSPM ((Public Servant Health Management and Medical Examination), at the Gerência de Planejamento Escolar GPE (School Planning Management) and at Gerência de Pessoal GP (Personnel Management Department) of the Municipal City Hall of BeloHorizonte. At the same time, a transversal study was carried out on a random sample of schools in the citys nine regions between May/2004 and July/2005. The eligible schools had at least 80% of the questionnaires responded. 2,103 day-shift female teachers of 83 primaryschools took part in the study. Data collection was performed by means of a self-applied questionnaire containing questions on socio-demographic issues, general and mental health(GHQ-12), working environment and organization and aspects related to voice. The analysis of factors associated to the dependent variable (absent, possible and probable voice disorder) was carried out in three steps using multinomial logistic regression, having as referencecategory the absence of voice disorder. Results: The number of subjects readapted for voice disorder was 164 teachers and the female sex was 98% of the sample. Nodules in the vocal folds were responsible for 32.5% of the cases. Epidemiological inquiry showed 33% of female teachers with no vocal symptom, 15% with probable voice disorder and 52% with possible voice disorder. Probable voice disorder was shown to be associated to poor working conditions, to aspects related to general health and to jeopardy in the professional performance. Conclusion: The results shown in both articles point out the magnitude of voice disorder among female teachers unable to perform their teaching duties as well as among those who are active in the classroom. The obtained data indicate the complexity of the teachers vocal disease and the need to implement new investigations aiming at a better understanding of the associated factors in order to favor improvements in the environmentaland organizational working conditions.