Dissatisfaction with health work: associated factors and gender differentials

Abstract Objective: to evaluate factors associated with job dissatisfaction among health workers, according to gender. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional, exploratory study, from 2011 to 2012, in Bahia State, Brazil, including 3,084 health workers. We evaluated job dissatisfaction according to sociodemographic and labor characteristics through bivariate and multivariate analyses, stratified by gender. Results: the dissatisfaction rate was 27.4% among men, and 25.6% among women. The following were shown as being associated with dissatisfaction among women: age up to 40 years (prevalence ratio - PR: 1.36; confidence interval - 95% CI: 1.17-1.58), technical (PR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.58-0.86) and elementary/high school educational level (PR: 0.66; 95%CI: 0.57-0.77), temporary employment contracts (PR: 0.66; 95%CI: 0.56-0.77) and being engaged in activities not compatible with their position (PR: 2.17; 95%CI: 1.81-2.60). For men: age up to 40 years (PR: 2.09; 95%CI: 1.56-2.81), being engaged in activities not compatible with their position (PR: 1.74; 95%CI: 1.30-2.34) and temporary employment contract (PR: 0.57; 95%CI: 0.44-0.74). Discussion: men and women experience high levels of job dissatisfaction, which were associated with sociodemographic and work characteristics. Educational level was the opposite between gender strata, revealing the persistence of gender inequalities. Conclusion: gender differences affect job dissatisfaction levels, and it becomes relevant to take them into consideration to raise the levels of job satisfaction.