Agência Goiana do Sistema Prisional: Estudo das Condições Sociodemográficas e Comportamentais de Mulheres de Detentos, Relacionadas à Vulnerabilidade ao Vírus HIV.

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the socialdemographic profile and the factors that determined the vulnerability to HIV infection of female convicts whose sexual partners are male convicts of the Prison System of the State of Goiás. The methodology comprised serological sorting, selection of 35 women, socialdemographic data collection and interviews by information saturation with 12 women distributed in two different female wards in prison: Temporary Prison and Social Insertion Center Consuelo Nasser . The quantitative analysis of data was performed using SPSS, the risk was evaluated by Fisher's Exact Test, and the qualitative analysis was carried out evaluating the contents of the interviews by information saturation. The results indicated that 41% of the women under study had sexual intercourse in the Prison System of the State of Goiás, which led to their exposal to a 40% higher risk factor of acquiring HIV infection. The prevalence of HIV infection in the population studied was 12.5, due to the seropositive results of the tests performed in the Social Insertion Center Consuelo Nasser , where women serve longer sentences. The prevalence of this infection in feminine prisons in the State of Goiás was 25 times higher than the one in the whole female population of the same State. The women are young (45.7% in the age group between 18 and 29 years old) and present mulatto complexion (60%). All the seropositive women have mulatto complexion and are in the age group between 24 and 35 years. Most of them have an active sexual life (80.0%), with frequent sexual intercourse, including the seropositive ones, and although not having a steady partner, 85.7% of them demonstrated knowledge about preventive methods. The general characteristics presented by the population analyzed are: originating from a large family of urban areas, having already been homeless in any period of their lives, presenting with lack of family structure, and having experienced situations of violence. It is concluded that the women in prison need specialized psychosocial assistance in order to provide the reduction of the factors that determine their vulnerability to HIV infection. The proposals of formal education inside the prison system are important and the opportunity to study from elementary school to university should be offered, as well as technical courses and other actions aiming to increase their family income. The integral health approach should be searched, offering the prisoners and their families periodical medical assistance, promoting interventional measures of education/prevention in prisons and effectively contributing to a better quality life and their right to citizenship.