Saúde no sistema prisional: Um estudo sob a ótica dos homens presos

Abstract

Brazil has approximately 700,000 prisoners serving sentences in penal establishments, which puts the country among the three largest prison populations in the world. Among the many characteristics and problems faced by this population, the health care of prisoners is a relevant topic, because its results directly implicate the main role of incarceration: resocialization. In view of this reality, the present study had as general objective to know the health practices of the men imprisoned in a penitentiary of the city of Campina Grande / PB. It consists of a descriptive, exploratory research and has the qualitative approach as the main reference. Thirty-five men arrested, serving sentences at the Campina Grande/PB Raimundo Asfora Regional Penitentiary (Serrotão), aged 25-59, participated in the study. Data collection instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, a semi-structured interview and a field diary. Data analysis was performed using the enunciation analysis technique. The results showed that health practices are minimal and preventive actions are based on individual prisoners' initiatives; in addition, health in the prison studied is far from fulfilling the prerogatives regarding the right to health established in the Federal Constitution of 1988, and in the National Policy for Comprehensive Health Care for Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Prison System. They also showed that the studied population has a higher prevalence among young people, brown and blacks. These are worrying characteristics, since the prisoners, of productive age, need to receive educational training and have work activities, considering that such activities are essential for the process of resocialization of these young people. Health within the prison is precarious, as there is a lack of dignified assistance and medication. The physical structure is poor, there is overcrowding of the cells, water and food are of poor quality, which favors the proliferation of infectious diseases. The treatment given to prisoners is inadequate and does not meet the objective of incarceration: the resocialization of the person.