Work and health of state schoolteachers in Ceará

In order to understand and analyse the reasons why permanent teachers in the Ceará state public school system, who are considered workers by the PNST, have fallen ill and consequently been readapted frequently, we used data collection methods and techniques to better assess this fact. In exploratory research, initially documental and then in the field, we found that of the total number of civil servants readapted, 85% are teachers and the two main reasons for these readaptations are respiratory diseases (ICD J), related to abusive use of the voice, and behavioural and mental disorders (ICD F), related to stress, depression and panic syndrome. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, we gathered information (reports and interviews) that complemented and justified the quantitative data, showing that the reasons for readaptations are linked to violence, overwork, professional and family pressures.