Violence in the health care workplace: a theme for international cooperation in human resources in the health sector

Abstract

Among the themes in concerning human resources in the health sector, major attention is being given to working conditions and health risks to workers, including, according to the 2006 World Health Report, violence in the workplace. Based on a study of the literature and official documents, this article seeks to show the problem’s relevance and identify elements for creating international cooperation strategies on this theme. Studies show that aggression can affect more than 50% of workers. The World Health Organization argues that violence is the result of the complex interaction of various factors, among which working conditions and organization and worker-aggressor interaction stand out. Health care units situated in more vulnerable locations may present a greater risk of violence for its workers, affecting professionals from those areas. Limited knowledge about the theme and regional differences are the reasons for the strategy of establishing networks among workers, users, managers, communities and academy in order to confront the problem. In Brazil, there are various initiatives of this type. Internationalizing these experiences create opportunities to strengthen these networks and also the horizontal cooperation in human resources in the health sector.