Women prison inmates’ perceptions of access to health as a tool for resocialization

Abstract

Objective: to unveil women’s perceptions of access to health services as a tool in the re-socialization process. Method: this qualitative, phenomenological-sociological study was conducted between November 2018 and November 2019 with 10 women at a women’s prison in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Results: the participants were 22 to 54 years old, of mixed race, single, had not completed lower secondary school, and had already experienced motherhood. Two thematic categories emerged: “Perceptions of access to health services: women’s invisibility” and “Access to health services as a resocialization tool: ties in shreds and Work and Education as an alternative escape route from oblivion, idleness and loneliness. Conclusion: the women deprived of their freedom were found to perceive themselves to be invisible and disconnected from access to health services as a tool in the re-socialization process.