Women and working in healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil: bullying of colleagues.

BACKGROUND: Based on a feminist approach, we analyzed the experiences of workplace bullying suffered by women front-line healthcare professionals dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. We start from studies that show that women make up 70% of the global health workforce, 85% in the area of nursing, and 90% in the case of social care workers. An unequivocal need thus exists to address gender issues regarding the composition of the labor force in the health area. The pandemic has aggravated recurring problems involving healthcare professionals at the various caregiving levels, such as mental harassment (bullying) and its effects on mental health. METHODS: Data were gathered from an online survey of a convenience (non-probability) sample composed of 1,430 volunteer respondents, all women that work in the public health system in Brazil. The analyses and discussions involved the responses to a questionnaire containing 12 closed-ended questions and one open-ended question. RESULTS: The results revealed a context of workplace bullying aggravated by precarious material, institutional and organizational conditions in the area of health services against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. This context has variously led to aggression, isolation, heavy workloads, and invasion of privacy, humiliation, persecution and fear as it was possible to see, mainly, in the answers to the study's open-ended question. This situation degrades both work relations and the integrity of the healthcare professionals who work on the front line to treat Covid-19 cases. CONCLUSION: We conclude that bullying is a psychosocial phenomenon that heightens the oppression and subordination still experienced by women in the contemporary context, but with new hues in a scenario of frontline response to Covid-19.

Gender and Race on the Frontline: Experiences of Health Workers in Brazil during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Studies on the differential effects of health emergencies have largely overlooked women health workers. Whilst the literature has shown the impact of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) on women and on healthcare workers, little research has considered the gendered effects of the health workforce. This article analyses the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers and working conditions in Brazil's public healthcare system, through consideration of gendered and racialized understandings of care and work. Data were taken from an online survey of 1,263 health workers, undertaken between September and October 2020, disaggregated by sex and by race in order to understand health workers' experiences of the pandemic in one of the countries most significantly affected by the crisis.

[Positive breathalyzer test: factors associated with drinking and driving in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil]. / Bafômetro positivo: correlatos do comportamento de beber e dirigir na cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Few researches in Brazil have focused on factors associated with drinking and driving. The current study presents data on the prevalence and characteristics of individuals that drive under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in nine regions of the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A total of 1,656 drivers were interviewed, of whom 1,254 (76%) agreed to answer a structured questionnaire and submit to the breathalyzer test. The breathalyzer test was positive in 15% of these drivers. The logistic regression model predicted 1.5 times higher odds of a positive breathalyzer test in drivers over 31 years of age and 4.5 times higher in individuals that reported at least weekly alcohol consumption. In addition, drivers in the Barreiro region showed two-fold odds of a positive breathalyzer test. Focused studies with sobriety checkpoints can monitor DUI behavior, drivers' characteristics, and traffic risks, meanwhile orienting public policies to prevent drinking and driving.

Bafômetro positivo: correlatos do comportamento de beber e dirigir na cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil / Positive breathalyzer test: factors associated with drinking and driving in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil / Alcoholímetro positivo: interrelación entre la conducta de beber y conducir en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

As características dos condutores que adotam o comportamento do beber e dirigir ainda não foram bem estudadas no país. O presente estudo apresenta dados da prevalência e características dos motoristas sob a influência de álcool nas nove regionais da cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram entrevistados 1.656 condutores. Desses, 1.254 (76%) aceitaram responder a um questionário estruturado e fazer o teste do bafômetro. O teste do bafômetro foi positivo para 15% dos condutores. O modelo de regressão logística prediz bafômetro positivo com chance 1,5 vez maior para os condutores com idade acima de 31 anos e 4,5 vezes maior para quem tem frequência de consumo de álcool pelo menos semanal. Além disso, condutores da regional Barreiro tem 2 vezes mais chances de apresentarem bafômetro positivo. Estudos localizados com metodologia dos postos de checagem da sobriedade podem monitorar o comportamento e características dos condutores, riscos no trânsito e direcionar políticas públicas para o beber e dirigir.

Few researches in Brazil have focused on factors associated with drinking and driving. The current study presents data on the prevalence and characteristics of individuals that drive under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in nine regions of the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A total of 1,656 drivers were interviewed, of whom 1,254 (76%) agreed to answer a structured questionnaire and submit to the breathalyzer test. The breathalyzer test was positive in 15% of these drivers. The logistic regression model predicted 1.5 times higher odds of a positive breathalyzer test in drivers over 31 years of age and 4.5 times higher in individuals that reported at least weekly alcohol consumption. In addition, drivers in the Barreiro region showed two-fold odds of a positive breathalyzer test. Focused studies with sobriety checkpoints can monitor DUI behavior, drivers' characteristics, and traffic risks, meanwhile orienting public policies to prevent drinking and driving.

Las características de los conductores que adoptan la conducta de beber y conducir todavía no han sido bien estudiadas en el país. El presente estudio muestra datos de la prevalencia y características de los conductores bajo la influencia de alcohol en las nueve carreteras regionales de la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Se entrevistaron a 1.656 conductores. De ellos, 1.254 (76%) aceptaron responder a un cuestionario estructurado y hacer el test del alcoholímetro. El test del alcoholímetro fue positivo para un 15% de los conductores. El modelo de regresión logística predice un alcoholímetro positivo con una probabilidad 1,5 vez mayor para los conductores de edad por encima de los 31 años y 4,5 veces mayor para quien tiene una frecuencia de consumo de alcohol por lo menos semanal. Asimismo, conductores de la regional Barreiro tienen 2 veces más probabilidad de presentar positivo en el alcoholímetro. Estudios localizados, con metodología de los puestos de control de alcoholemia, pueden supervisar el comportamiento y características de los conductores, los riesgos en el tráfico rodado y dirigir políticas públicas para evitar el alcohol y conducir de manera segura.

Beber e dirigir: características de condutores com bafômetro positivo / Drinking and driving: characteristics of drivers with positive breathalyzer

CONTEXTO: O beber e dirigir não foi suficientemente estudado no Brasil até agora.OBJETIVO: Apresentar dados do primeiro levantamento sobre o comportamento do beber e dirigir de um estado do Brasil.MÉTODO: Foram conduzidas 1.799 entrevistas anônimas com motoristas em postos de checagem de sobriedade em 10 cidades, representando as 10 regiões geográficas do estado de Minas Gerais. Desses motoristas, 1.209 (67,2%) responderam a um questionário estruturado e aceitaram o teste do bafômetro.RESULTADOS: Vinte por cento dos motoristas estavam dirigindo com níveis de alcoolemia acima do limite legal. A análise de regressão logística, controlada por sexo, foi utilizada para predizer bafômetro positivo. Essa análise mostrou chance aumentada de bafômetro positivo para condutor com idade acima de 31 anos que tem frequência de consumo de álcool de, pelo menos, um a dois dias na semana e para quem não usa o cinto de segurança.CONCLUSÃO: Estudos localizados com metodologia similares realizados em postos de checagem da sobriedade podem monitorar o comportamento dos condutores e os riscos no trânsito e direcionar políticas públicas sobre o beber e dirigir.

CONTEXT: Drinking and driving has not been adequately studied in Brazil so far.OBJECTIVE: The present study presents data from the first survey on drinking and driving behavior in a Brazilian state.METHOD: One thousand seven hundred ninety-nine anonymous interviews were conducted with drivers at sobriety checkpoints in ten cities representing the ten geographic regions of the state of Minas Gerais. Of those drivers, 1,209 (67.2%) responded to a subsequent structured questionnaire and agreed to take a breathalyzer test.RESULTS: Twenty percent of the drivers were driving with blood alcohol levels over the legal limit. Logistic regression analysis, controlled by sex, was used to predict positive breathalyzer test. Drivers over the age of 31 years with an alcohol consumption frequency of at least 1-2 days per week, who were not using seat belts, showed an increased probability of positive breathalyzer test.DISCUSSION: Studies with a similar methodology conducted in sobriety checkpoints can monitor the behavior of drivers and risks in traffic, and direct public policy on drinking and driving.

[Drinking-and-driving prevalence in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil]. / Prevalência do beber e dirigir em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Problems resulting from alcohol consumption by drivers have been studied worldwide, and epidemiological research points to high injury and death rates related to drinking-and-driving. However, equivalent data are limited in Brazil. In this study, 913 drivers were stopped on public roads with heavy traffic and high concentrations of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, and asked to answer a questionnaire and submit to an active breathalyzer test. The study was done in December 2005 and December 2006. The study adopted the internationally accepted sobriety checkpoint method. In the sample, 38.0% of drivers showed some trace of alcohol in their exhaled air, and 19.6% were at or above the legal limit (0.6 g/l). These figures were five times those found in similar surveys in other countries. The findings suggest a critical drinking-and-driving problem in Belo Horizonte (and probably elsewhere in Brazil) and the need for on-going research, the development of specific public policies to deal with the problem, and effective enforcement of the existing law.

Prevalência do beber e dirigir em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil / Drinking-and-driving prevalence in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Os problemas decorrentes do consumo de álcool em motoristas são estudados internacionalmente, e estudos epidemiológicos indicam alta prevalência de morbidade e mortalidade relacionadas ao beber e dirigir, entretanto existem escassos dados nacionais a respeito. Neste presente estudo, 913 condutores de veículos foram parados, em vias públicas de tráfego com maiores concentrações de bares, restaurantes e casas noturnas, em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil e solicitados que respondessem a um questionário e fizessem o teste do bafômetro ativo. Esta pesquisa foi realizada no mês de dezembro de 2005 e dezembro de 2006. Para tanto, adotamos a metodologia do tipo pontos de fiscalização de sobriedade utilizada internacionalmente. Na nossa amostra, 38,0 por cento dos motoristas apresentavam algum traço de álcool no ar expirado e 19,6 por cento estavam com níveis de álcool iguais ou acima dos limites legais (0,6g/l). Esses dados foram cinco vezes maiores do que aqueles encontrados em pesquisas semelhantes, em outros países. Os achados deste estudo sugerem a relevância do problema na cidade de Belo Horizonte (e provavelmente no Brasil), a necessidade de pesquisas permanentes, do desenvolvimento de políticas públicas específicas para o assunto e do eficaz cumprimento da lei existente.

Problems resulting from alcohol consumption by drivers have been studied worldwide, and epidemiological research points to high injury and death rates related to drinking-and-driving. However, equivalent data are limited in Brazil. In this study, 913 drivers were stopped on public roads with heavy traffic and high concentrations of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, and asked to answer a questionnaire and submit to an active breathalyzer test. The study was done in December 2005 and December 2006. The study adopted the internationally accepted sobriety checkpoint method. In the sample, 38.0 percent of drivers showed some trace of alcohol in their exhaled air, and 19.6 percent were at or above the legal limit (0.6g/l). These figures were five times those found in similar surveys in other countries. The findings suggest a critical drinking-and-driving problem in Belo Horizonte (and probably elsewhere in Brazil) and the need for on-going research, the development of specific public policies to deal with the problem, and effective enforcement of the existing law.