Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Firefighters from Belo Horizonte City, Brazil: Prevalence and Occupational Associated Factors

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of PTSD (last 30 days) and to investigate whether occupational variables are associated with the outcome in firefighters from Belo Horizonte city, Brazil. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011. Among 794 eligible workers, 711 (89.5%) participated. Information was obtained by self-report questionnaire: sociodemographic and occupational variables, health status and non-occupational adverse events. The prevalence of PTSD was 6.9 %. Occupational variables contributed to explain the outcome in the final model (multivariate logistic regression): psychosocial work factors, occupational traumatic events, duration of work as firefighter, and absenteeism. Age, mental health problems in the past, and non-occupational adverse events were also associated with the outcome. The results are discussed considering the assumptions of Demand-Control Model.