BETWEEN MOTHERHOOD AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER: THE REALITY OF HEALTH WORKERS IN THE SUS

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between equity in the Unified Health System (SUS) and caregiving, highlighting the challenges faced by female workers in the system. Equity, a core principle of the SUS, acknowledges the impact of social determinants of health, such as working conditions and discrimination based on gender and race, on the health of professionals. Caregiving, understood as a caregiving responsibility, goes beyond biological factors and is performed by various caregiver profiles, including cis women, transgender men and women, and same-sex couples. The study aims to investigate how professional health training in the SUS influences the daily lives of workers who engage in caregiving, particularly regarding mental health and working conditions. A systematic review of 11 articles reveals that these workers face physical and emotional overload, exacerbated by a lack of institutional support, such as breastfeeding rooms and adequate public policies to protect mothers in the workplace. The results emphasize the importance of psychological support policies and the creation of infrastructure that enables a better balance between caregiving and work. The implementation of breastfeeding rooms and the strengthening of policies such as maternity leave are essential to ensure a fairer and healthier working environment for SUS workers, promoting their physical and emotional well-being.