VOICES FROM PRISON: PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY REGARDING THE NURSING CARE RECEIVED DURING THE PREGNANCY-PUERPERAL CYCLE

Abstract

Health care for women deprived of liberty during the pregnancy-puerperal cycle represents a significant challenge for health services, especially considering the vulnerabilities inherent to the prison environment. This study aimed to identify which aspects of nursing care are considered adequate or insufficient by incarcerated women, as well as to describe the main challenges, weaknesses, and strengths of such care. This is an integrative literature review with a descriptive and qualitative approach, conducted using the Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Google Scholar databases. Studies published between 2020 and 2025 in Portuguese addressing nursing care during the pregnancy-puerperal cycle of incarcerated women were included. The final sample consisted of 20 studies. The findings revealed that nursing care is often recognized by women as an important source of support, guidance, and emotional assistance during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. However, weaknesses persist regarding access to and continuity of prenatal care, shortage of human and material resources, inadequate prison infrastructure, poor integration with health care networks, obstetric violence, restriction of rights, and insufficient emotional support. On the other hand, nursing consultations, health education activities, breastfeeding promotion, qualified listening, and the strengthening of the therapeutic bond emerged as important strengths. It is concluded that, despite advances in care for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, strategies are still needed to strengthen humanized care, professional training, service infrastructure, and the effective guarantee of reproductive and maternal rights, contributing to comprehensive, equitable, and high-quality care.