Federal University of Bahia, Institute of Collective Health, Program of Environmental and Workers' Health, Brazil.
Ind Health. 2013;51(5):463-71. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2013-0020. Epub 2013 Jun 26.
Work injuries are a worldwide public health problem but little is known about their socioeconomic impact. This prospective longitudinal study estimates the direct health care costs and socioeconomic consequences of work injuries for 406 workers identified in the emergency departments of the two largest public hospitals in Salvador, Brazil, from June through September 2005. After hospital discharge workers were followed up monthly until their return to work. Most insured workers were unaware of their rights or of how to obtain insurance benefits (81.6%). Approximately half the cases suffered loss of earnings, and women were more frequently dismissed than men. The most frequently reported family consequences were: need for a family member to act as a caregiver and difficulties with daily expenses. Total costs were US$40,077.00 but individual costs varied widely, according to injury severity. Out-of-pocket costs accounted for the highest proportion of total costs (50.5%) and increased with severity (57.6%). Most out-of-pocket costs were related to transport and purchasing medicines and other wound care products. The second largest contribution (40.6%) came from the public National Health System - SUS. Employer participation was negligible. Health care funding must be discussed to alleviate the economic burden of work injuries on workers.
工作场所损伤是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，但人们对其造成的社会经济影响知之甚少。本前瞻性纵向研究对 2005 年 6 月至 9 月间巴西萨尔瓦多两家最大公立医院急诊部确定的 406 名工人的工作场所损伤的直接医疗费用和社会经济后果进行了估计。工人出院后，每月随访直至重返工作岗位。大多数有保险的工人不知道自己的权利或如何获得保险福利（81.6%）。大约一半的案例造成收入损失，而且女性比男性更频繁地被解雇。报告的最常见家庭后果为：需要家庭成员充当照顾者和日常开支困难。总费用为 40,077.00 美元，但根据损伤严重程度，个人费用差异很大。自付费用占总费用的比例最高（50.5%），且随严重程度增加（57.6%）。大多数自付费用与交通和购买药品及其他伤口护理产品有关。第二大费用来源（40.6%）来自公共国家卫生系统 - SUS。雇主参与微不足道。必须讨论医疗保健资金，以减轻工作场所损伤对工人造成的经济负担。
