Abstract

In Chile, there are few studies that documented indicators of teacher occupational health, but do not show evidence regarding the ergonomic working conditions, as well as possible solutions to improve their working conditions. Objectives: Describe the working conditions in schools in Chile during the pandemic context, providing a diagnosis from the ergonomic and gender analysis. Material and Methods: Case study, observational descriptive cross-sectional design with mixed approach. A total of 101 teachers answered the survey (n = 72 women/ n = 29 man) from 4 educational establishments, that includes the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and a questionnaire on working conditions in educational establishments with a specific section in teleworking. Results: We found a high prevalence of conditions considered ergonomically unsuitable for teleworking at home, to a greater extent for female, 91,7% of women and 82,8% of men have discomfort at the end of the telework shift, like muscle aches (neck, shoulders, elbows, back, etc.) for a 48,3% of men and 77,8% of women; head-ache (men 24,1%; women 50,0%) and irritation or sore throat (men 41,4%, woman 22,2%). An 44,6% of workers they are at the level of psychopathology with the GHQ-12, and a higher average time spent on housework on work days for women than men. Conclusions. This work can provide important evidence from ergonomics and integrating gender, for making public policy decisions that help to improve working conditions, which would benefit working men and women in this sector.