Abstract
Introduction:
Community Health Agents (CHAs) are a link between the health team and the community. Their work may cause suffering and illness, harming their Quality of Life which is understood as the individual’s perception of their life position in cultural context, and value system in which they live. The occupational therapist contributes to the worker’s quality of life.
Objective:
To describe the profile, job specificities and quality of life of CHAs, contextualizing possible contributions of Occupational Therapy.
Method:
A descriptive study conducted with health network CHAs Recife/PE. We assessed quality of life using sociodemographic questionnaire, with information on health/life habits and occupational conditions and the WHOQOL-Bref.
Results:
Seventy-one, most of them women, young, non-smokers and practicing physical activity participated. They work in a regular access area (71.84%), in complete teams (47.89%) and accompanying over 750 people (46.48%). The quality of life has in the social domain achieved greater satisfaction, where the facets personal relationships and social support were better scored. The environment domain obtained lower score, with the facets freedom, physical safety and security, financial resources, transport and physical environment having greater dissatisfaction levels. The occupational therapist can use group activities, expressive tasks and orientations in order to improve the agent’s health by using techniques for safety, team work, self-care and relaxation.
Conclusion:
The community health agents lack the general definition of quality of life, with domains of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The occupational therapist acts to reduce the sources of illness and suffering in these professionals’ work.
Keywords:
Occupational Therapy; Community Health Agents; Quality of Life; Worker Health
