Causes of leave for health treatment in a group of workers of a material sterilization center in a Belo Horizonte Office

Abstract

This study reviewed the causes of leave for health treatment over a six-month period in workers of a Material Sterilization Center in a Belo Horizonte Hospital. The data was collected with a semistructured questionnaire. 62.9% of the workers took health care leave in the six months. The most frequent leave was 1-5 days (69.2%). Alterations of the muscle-skeletal-ligament system corresponded to 36.3% of the leaves, 100% for undetermined time and 25.5% of the total days of leave. Obstetrics and gynecology took 9% of the leaves and 31.6% of the days were due to maternity leave. The results showed diseases of the muscle-skeletal-ligament system as the most significant cause of leave for health treatment, whether for the number of leaves or the long periods involved. We concluded that most of the causes reported could have been prevented with regular health control of workers and adopting preventive measures in labor organization.