The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68223

Vilma Santana, MD, PhD, Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Padre Feijo 29/4' andar, Canela-Cep, Salvador-Bahia, 40110-170, Brazil, 55-71-245-0544, vilma@ufba.br, Sharon P. Cooper, PhD, Epidemiology, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, 3000 Briarcrest, Suite 300, Bryan, TX 77802, and Robert E. Roberts, PhD, Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS E-1033, Houston, TX 77030.

Introduction: Adolescent workers who attend school have a double work-shift, which can cause tiredness, lack of energy, motivation and poor concentration, known as predictors of poor school performance. When the problem is chronic it can also cause sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression (Institute of Medicine, 1998) and may affect self-perceived health or well-being. Objective: In this cross-sectional study, the hypothesis that adolescent double work-shift affects school performance, self-perceived health, and wellbeing is examined. Methods: From a random cluster area sampling of 2,615 households from the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 888 workers from 10 to 20 years of age answered questionnaires about health, occupational and socio-demographic data.Results: Results show distinct gender patterns: men who have a paid job and attend school were more likely to report poor school performance (Prevalence Ratio, PR=1.40, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.05 - 1.88) and skipping class (PR=3.38, 95%CI: 1.48 - 7.71) than those who were only students; in contrast, women who work and attend school reported more commonly poor self-reported health (PR=1.85, 95%CI:1.16 - 2.96) than those who only attend school. These associations remain after adjustment for potential confounding of age, skin color, and socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Since labor legislation for adolescent workers does not stress that jobs can compromise health or education achievements of students, its enforcement needs to be urgently implemented.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants in this session will be able to:
• 1-Identify whether having a paid job and attending school is a risk factor for school performance and self-perceived health and well-being
• 2-Recognize the importance of gender to study adolescents occupational health
• 3-Recognize adolescents as a vulnerable worker group

Keywords: Adolescents, International, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.