Economic, labor, and social conditions of nursing personnel in the Paraguayan Chaco, 2025

Abstract

Introduction. Those who design internal regulations often view the healthcare team as a channel through which care flows, rather than as individuals whose own balance sustains that care. Objective. To determine the economic, labor, and social conditions of nursing staff working in the Paraguayan Chaco region. 2025. Materials and Methods. A quantitative, observational, and descriptive study was conducted. 45 nurses selected by convenience in the Chaco region were surveyed. A validated instrument was used (Cronbach's alpha: 0.85). Ethical principles were guaranteed according to the Belmont report. Results. The sample comes mostly from the XV Health Region (57%), with ages between 40-49 years (40%), women (56%), and with children (88%). 84% have a degree in nursing, 53% have more than 11 years of experience, and 63% earn above the minimum wage. 49% are employed, and 77% have received training. Forty-five percent work 30 hours per week, and 33% work overtime. Thirty-six percent use motorcycles, and 40% rate the roads as poor. Forty-seven percent serve communities of 1,000–3,000 inhabitants. Regarding infrastructure, 89% have electricity, but only 22% have potable water and 20% have constant internet access. Forty-seven percent have adequate furniture and basic equipment. Conclusion. Despite their experience and training, nurses in Chaco face job insecurity, poor infrastructure, and transportation difficulties. These conditions affect their well-being and can compromise the quality of health care. Policies to improve their working conditions are needed.