Prevalence of symptoms of depression among community health workers

Abstract Community health workers are indispensable, and they are considered important actors in the organization of the Unified Health System. The present study had the goal of evaluating the prevalence of symptoms of depression related to the occupational, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors of the workers. We performed a cross-sectional study with 400 community health workers through individual interviews in basic health units of a municipality of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2015 and 2017. The dependent variable was the prevalence of symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), and the independent variables were psychosocial stress at work (demand-control model); social support; socioeconomic and demographic profile; self-perception of health; physical activity; labor characteristics and conditions; ability to work; and quality of life. The prevalence of symptoms of depression among the workers was of 20.6%. In the multivariate analysis, the prevalence of depression was associated with low or moderate ability to work, low social support, the upper, middle and lower strata of the lower class, and to the physical and psychological domains of quality of life. We suggest the creation of spaces to discuss mental health related to work.