Emprego e características sócio-demográficas: um estudo sobre a precarização nos distritos sanitários de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

The process of consolidation of the "Sistema Unico de Saude" (the Brazilian equivalent of the Universal Healthy System) and the challenges of implementing more decentralized policies for the public health system, have demonstrated the need for a comprehensive understanding of the profile, the current employment situation, and the work conditions of professionals of the public healthy system in nine health care districts of Belo Horizonte (specifically for professionals of intermediate level). The object of this research was the study of relationships between the work conditions and characteristics of employment in the context of actions centered in the efficient use of human resources for the development of public health systems. Important data was gathered and analyzed in order to describe the socio-demographic profile of the health workers in the health care districts of Belo Horizonte from 2002 to 2006. Variables such as age, gender, instruction/education level, type of employment, wage level, distribution of tasks, working conditions and time serving in the public health care system were analyzed. A comparison was made between the group of workers with permanent employment status and those with non permanent employment status. Daily tension and conflicts experienced by health workers in the districts made clear the relevance of policies specifically oriented towards protecting the workers and the employment in the public health sector. The analysis of data regarding the current employment characteristics in the public health system of Belo Horizonte clearly showed a increasing precarization of the working conditions and employment in the local public health system for professionals of intermediate level, thus revealing a great need for policies that aim to protect health workers' employment and to improve their work conditions.