TITLE:
Knowledge of Female Prisoners in a City of Ceará, Brazil, about Sexually Transmitted Diseases
AUTHORS:
Cinthia Gondim Pereira Calou, Camila Fonseca Wasidi, Maria de Fátima Esmeraldo Ramos de Figueiredo, Ana Izabel Oliveira Nicolau, Ana Karina Bezerra Pinheiro, Régia Christina Moura Barbosa Castro, Priscila de Souza Aquino
KEYWORDS:
Prisoners, Nursing, Women’s Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.4 No.9,
August
8,
2014
ABSTRACT: Exploratory study was
conducted in the Crato Public Prison, State of Ceará, Brazil, aiming to understand
the knowledge and experiences related to the preventive aspects of Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the prison context. The target population of the
study consisted of 14 female inmates, 10 of whom agreed to participate. Data
collection occurred in June 2012 through recorded semi-structured
individual interviews. We investigated quantitative,
socio-demographic and sexual variables. In qualitative data analysis, we
applied the Meaning Interpretation Method. The female vulnerability was
aggravated by the early onset of sexual activity, lack of knowledge about STDs,
non-adoption of preventive measures and history of prostitution. The following
categories emerged from the qualitative assessment: Knowledge about STD/AIDS versus
Personal Experience; Use of contraception as STD/AIDS prevention within the
Public Jail; Habits of inmates: alcohol and tobacco; and Characterization of
the conjugal visit area.