Estudo das redes de mulheres que atuam em serviços de saúde de alta complexidade no Triângulo Mineiro.

Abstract

Introduction: Work activities, especially in the health area, expose workers to situations of suffering, injuries, and physical, mental, and social illness. When analyzed from a gender perspective, these vulnerabilities become even more evident, especially for women, who face overloads and inequalities historically constructed in the work environment. Objective: To analyze the formation of personal social networks, according to the Sluzki model, of workers at a regional reference hospital in the Triângulo Mineiro region, from the perspective of the social construction of illness. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory study with a qualitative approach that seeks to understand the cultural values and social representations about health, work, and gender, in addition to the relationships established between the subjects in the institutional context of health. The research used a sociodemographic questionnaire, combined with the adaptation of Sluzki's Network Map (1997), in the form of a Minimum Network Map, applied in person to 14 participants at the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HCU), between January and March 2024. Results and Discussion: Of the interviewees, more than 50% are between 26 and 35 years old. The majority declare themselves white (n = 11), are married (n = 7) and have at least one child (n = 8). Regarding education, 10 have higher education or more, 12 work 36 hours a week and have been at the institution for less than five years. In addition, 13 stated that they practice physical activities at least once a week. The Relationship Maps demonstrate diverse social networks, with variations in the number of people per layer and quadrant, evidencing different levels of support and social interaction. Conclusion: Social support networks, both in the community context and in the workplace, play a fundamental role in promoting the mental health of female healthcare workers, and can act as a protective factor against adversities and work-related illness.