title: A multifactorial approach to sickness absenteeism among nursing staff.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze factors associated with self-reported sickness absenteeism among nursing workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study with 1,509 workers from three public hospitals in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil) in 2006. Absenteeism was classified in three levels: no day, a few days (1-9 days) and many days (> 10 days), based on the answer to a question of the work ability index questionnaire. The logistic regression analysis considered a conceptual model based on distal (socioeconomic status), intermediate I (occupational characteristics), intermediate II (lifestyle characteristics), and proximal (diseases and health conditions) determinants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of sickness absenteeism were 20.3% and 16.6% for a few days and many days, respectively. Those who reported more than one job, musculoskeletal diseases and rated their health as poor or regular had higher odds of absenteeism. Compared to nurses, nursing assistants were less likely to mention a few days, and technicians were more likely to have many days of absence. Higher odds of mentioning many days of absence were observed among public servants, compared to contract workers (OR = 3.12; 95%CI 1.86;5.22), and among married (OR = 1.73; 95%CI 1.14;2.63) and separated, divorced and widowed individuals (OR = 2.06, 95%CI 1.27;3.35), compared to singles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different variables were associated with the two forms of absenteeism, which suggests its multiple and complex determination related to factors from different levels that cannot be exclusively explained by health problems.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. rocarolf@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Roberta Carolina
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Rosane Härter
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Griep
authors.forename: Maria de Jesus Mendes da
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Lúcia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rotenberg
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors