Work and health status of care-givers of disable adolescents: an approach from the activity point of view

Abstract

The present article presents and discusses the results of a survey with caregivers of (physically and mentally) disable adolescents in a daily care center recently established by Rio de Janeiro City Council. The objective was to understand how the work activity of caregivers (which is natural and invisible due to its association with domestic-maternal work) is related to the health-disease process experienced by these workers. The chosen method has been a combination of field observations, individual and collectives half-structured interviews using the ergological perspective and, mainly, its concepts. We point out the following important results: naturalized prescriptions of care; high intensity in work performance; problems related to planning and time-management; building cooperation among care givers, enabling, even though in a poor manner, to achieve the work; great affective ties among users as a job demand, as an important agent of the health-disease process, and also to give meaning to the work. Because the care giving work is seen as natural, /parental, it contributes to the low offer of theoretic-practical tools for the professional practice. The scarce qualification level seems to increase health risks in these workers, since they have limited access to techniques and work conditions that make a successful result possible. Thus, these factors, associated to relational work invisibility occurring in that setting, leads to weakening in the fight for health status and the ability to recreate work norms.