Epidemiological profile of female detainees in the Brazilian state of Paraíba: A descriptive study

Abstract

Aim: To describe the epidemiological profile of female detainees in the Brazilian state of Paraíba. Method: This is a transversal study, with descriptive and quantitative approaches, performed between July and October 2012, in female penitentiaries. The sample is composed by 227 subjects. The data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed based on descriptive statistics. Results: The women were mostly from the Brazilian state of Paraíba, between 18 and 28 years old (52.4%), incomplete Middle School level (59%), single (54.2%) and with children (82.4%). Drug trafficking (28.4%) and association to drug trafficking (13.3%) were the main causes of imprisonment. It was also seen that 29.5% work and 28.2% study in prison; 25.9% have diagnosed diseases and 18.1% have medical support. Discussion: The unfavorable epidemiological conditions precede, and maybe lead to imprisonment. Conclusion: Female detainees inserted within social contexts characterized by poverty and exclusion constitute an obstacle to overcome, in order to achieve successful processes of resocialization, while such barriers also have negatively affect on their health conditions.