PURPOSE: to know factors associated with seeking vocal assistance among teachers. METHOD: 1,980 day-shift female teachers of 76 primary schools took part in the study. Data were collected between May 2004 and July 2005 using a questionnaire. The dependent variable referred to the question "In the last two weeks, have you sought medical / audiological help because of vocal problems?" The independent variables were: symptoms of vocal fatigue and deterioration in vocal quality, sociodemographic characteristics, health aspects, perceived noise in the classroom and at school, work absenteeism and vocal problems working in other activity using intensive voice. Logistic regression was usein order to analyze associations among the dependent variable and the concerning factors with magnitudes being estimated using the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: only 7% of the teachers sought assistance within 15 days. The demand for care was associated with high noise in the classroom, reporting worsening voice, upper respiratory problems and absence from work because of vocal problems. CONCLUSION: demand or not for health care is related to factors other than illness. Thus, issues concerning the use of health services as a dynamic process related to vocal disorders must be addressed in future researches.
Voice Disorders; Faculty; Delivery of Health Care
