Promotion of breastfeeding in the prison system from the perception of incarcerated nursing mothers

Abstract

Objective: to unveil the promotion of breastfeeding in the prison system from the perception of incarcerated nursing mothers, in the light of the structure of the open systems of Imogene King. Method: a qualitative study, developed in a female prison unit. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 14 incarcerated nursing mothers, and the data analysis was guided by the Collective Subject Discourse technique. Results: seven central ideas grouped into each of King’s three open systems emerged: Personal System - The promotion of breastfeeding with a focus on the child’s health; Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in an authoritative way; Interpersonal system - Conflicting interaction with health professionals; Harmonious and trustful relationship with the Psychosocial Sector; Social System: the rules of the prison system defining the duration of breastfeeding; Physical structure and confinement as stressors; The prison environment and its rules as generators of stress and disruption to the practice of breastfeeding. Conclusion: the promotion of breastfeeding in the prison is authoritative and denies the autonomy of the nursing mother to a conscious decision making. The prison organization has peculiar conditions that interfere both in the practice of breastfeeding and in the care to the nursing mothers, which leads to an inefficient interaction between women and health professionals, making it difficult to reach the goal of effective nursing care and satisfaction with the care provided.