Depressão e absenteísmo trabalhista entre professores da rede municipal de ensino de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

Depressive disorders are considered a serious public health problem. It has high prevalence rates and impacts on health in general, mainly on the psychosocial dimension. Depression generates absenteeism and damages to the worker's professional performance, in addition to economic losses for the employer. This study aimed to analyze the indicators of labor absenteeism due to depression among teachers in the municipal education network of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional analytical study, with data collection in documents on work leave due to depression, from 2017 and 2018, in the municipality of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The prevalence of depression among teachers was estimated, the demographic and employment profile of those with depression was raised and indicators of labor absenteeism were analyzed. The statistical treatment considered the level of significance p <0.05. Research with ethical approval, opinion No. 3.040.541. In the studied biennium, 110 teachers left because of depression. The prevalence of the disease among teachers was estimated at 3.43% in 2017 and 3.48% in 2018. The demographic profile of 110 teachers with a history of depression was 92.70% women and 52.70% were 33 to 48 years. The job profile presented 97% of applicants and 60.9% with more than 10 years of service. The labor absenteeism rate was 0.38% in 2017 and 0.44% in 2018. The hours lost each year were higher than 6,000 ago. In the biennium, there were 303 certificates corresponding to 110 teachers with records of leave; with recurrences observed for 24 teachers. In 2017, 67 teachers were dismissed, with up to 10 absences for the same individual, and the recurrence of the 2nd absence occurred for 59.7% of them. In 2018, 67 teachers also left, with up to nine leaves for one of them, and the recurrence of the 2nd leave was 50.7%. The average number of months with records of absences among effective teachers was higher (2.85 ± 2.61) than among hired workers (1.77 ± 1.42), p = 0.033. As for the distribution of hours lost from work, a seasonal effect was observed, signaling cyclical variation, with a reduction in the months of vacation, July and December. This study may support health and education managers and professionals regarding the profile of teachers with depression, recurrences and seasonal distribution of absences throughout the year. The programming of actions that promote health promotion in the school environment and in interpersonal interactions would contribute to the promotion of mental health, with possible consequences in reducing negative factors about teachers and recurrences of absences due to depression in the municipal system.