O-359 Mental health in a sample of 72,452 workers from 8 countries of Latin America: results of health and working conditions surveys

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Work is considered a key determinant of mental health. However, evidence on the impact of work in mental health in Latin America is scarce. <h3>Objectives</h3> To analyse the relationship between mental health status and work in Latin America through three indicators: labour relationship (employed/self-employed or employer), employment condition (formal/informal), and occupational category (non manual skilled/non manual non-skilled/manual skilled/manual non-skilled). <h3>Methods</h3> Cross sectional study based on health and working condition surveys from 8 countries of Latin America. Poor mental health was defined as a score of &gt; = 3 on the GHQ12; &gt;= 10 on the PHQ9; or &lt;= 13 on the WHO5 scales. Informal workers were defined as those unregistered or lacking a contract. Occupational categories were created following the international standard classification of occupation. Prevalence ratios and their IC95% were calculated stratified by sex and adjusted by age, educational level and marital status. <h3>Results</h3> Final sample consisted of 72,452 workers, from Argentina (n=8966), Brazil (n=52832), Costa Rica (n=1503), El Salvador (n=1507), Guatemala (n=1510), Honduras (n=1507), Nicaragua (n=1500) and Panamá (n=1505). Poor mental health ranged from 4.5% in Brazilian men to 25.9% in Panamanian women. Manual non-skilled men showed higher prevalence of poor mental health than non-manual skilled men in Argentina (RPa 1.43 IC95% 1.04 - 1.95) and Central America (RPa 1.94 IC95% 1.12 - 3.34). In Brazil, men employers showed higher prevalence of poor mental health (RPa 1.25 IC95% 1.02 - 1.53) and informal workers showed higher prevalence of poor mental health irrespective of sex (Men RPa 1.16 IC95% 1.02 - 1.33; Women RPa 1.30 IC95% 1.05 - 1.60). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Prevalence of poor mental health varies significantly between occupational groups and countries. Special attention should be pay to informal workers, workers in elementary occupations and employers.