Cadernos de Saude Publica
Volume 32, Issue 7, 2016

Documents make a difference: The case of Brazilian domestic workers in Massachusetts, USA [Documento faz diferença: O caso das trabalhadoras domésticas brasileiras em Massachusetts, Estados Unidos] [Los papeles marcan la diferencia: El caso de las trabajadoras domésticas brasileñas en Massachusetts, Estados Unidos] (Article) (Open Access)

Siqueira C.E.* , Soares G.B. , Neto P.L.A. , Tracy M.N.
  • a College of Public and Community Service, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States
  • b Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, Brazil
  • c Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista, Brazil
  • d Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston, United States

Abstract

Brazilian immigrants in the United States experience various social, labor, and health challenges. This study aimed to analyze the profile of female Brazilian domestic workers in Massachusetts, USA, through a description of their working conditions and selfrated health. This was a cross-sectional study of 198 domestic workers in Massachusetts, recruited with “snowball” sampling. The instrument addressed participants’ demographic characteristics, work conditions, and self-rated health. Data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0. Among the interviewees, 95.5% were women, 62.1% were 30 to 49 years of age, and 55.6% were undocumented. Documented and undocumented participants showed statistically significant differences in demographics, work conditions, and health. Irregular immigrant status appears to have a negative impact on domestic workers’ living and health conditions. © 2016, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

workers emigrants and immigrants occupational health

Index Keywords

immigrant sampling Massachusetts human work environment middle aged Women, Working data analysis software statistics and numerical data Humans Health Surveys ethnology Undocumented Immigrants Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant Diagnostic Self Evaluation classification worker undocumented immigrant male Emigrants and Immigrants self evaluation female adult human experiment Brazil occupational health Housekeeping health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84979073209&doi=10.1590%2f0102-311X00131115&partnerID=40&md5=a0ec388679fbb4f6fdcb48a769f72cc2
DOI: 10.1590/0102-311X00131115
ISSN: 0102311X
Original Language: Portuguese