Community Health Agents: sociodemographic profile, employment and satisfaction with work in a city of Bahia’s semiarid

Abstract Introduction The Community Health Agent (CHA) is a link between health service and community, being an indispensable professional to implement Primary Health Care actions. Employment conditions and dissatisfaction with the job can affect the worker’s health. The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic profile, employment characteristics and job satisfaction in CHA work of Juazeiro, Bahia. Method An epidemiological survey was performed to collect data of 145 CHA, using a structured questionnaire, applied by interviewer. Results Most participants were women (81.38%), up to 40 years old (51.72%), brown skin color (60.69%), married/common-law marriage (66.21%), city staff (95.77%), and working six to twelve years in the same unit (55.86%). Just over half proved showed interest in reapplying for the job (52.,08%) and most reported as satisfied/very satisfied with the work capacity (77.93%). As for work capacity, 28.28% declared themselves dissatisfied/very dissatisfied, 60.00% indifferent and 11.72% satisfied/very satisfied. Conclusion The consolidation of organizational policies and management of CHA work processes and appreciation of these professionals is fundamental to modify the existing dissatisfaction frame, contributing to the strengthening of Primary Health Care.