The prison population is growing increasingly worldwide. Thus, as a way of delimiting this very broad subject, this study will emphasize the nursing care provided to women in prison. Identify nursing actions provided to women in prison. This is a literature review, performed in November 2019, in the Virtual Health Library Portal (VHL). the profile of female prisoners is primarily young, with a low socioeconomic and educational level, without performing a paid function. In addition, they sometimes have a broken family without access to vocational training. These facts may be directly related to the prison situation of such women. ​This study allowed us to understand that nursing care in face of this situation is significant than to aim for a careful and individualized assessment of each patient.

Keywords: ​ nursing care, penitentiary, woman

The prison population is growing increasingly worldwide. Thus, as a way of delimiting this very broad subject, this study will emphasize the nursing care provided to women in prison.According to Andrade and Gonçalves,¹ incarcerated women have been growing at a higher rate than men. Thus, among the main reasons related to this reality, it would be women with low income, low education and lack of family support, who are involved in theft and crimes related to drug trafficking, for example. According to Santos et al.,² most of these women live with social vulnerabilities, which are aggravated by the living conditions introduced by the prison regime, which directly affect and influence the health-disease process and women's health needs. In confinement situation. Thus, it is appropriate to mention that the nursing care provided to the following incarcerated women is of paramount importance, given that the nurse provides integral, singular and humanized care to clients. ​This study has the objective o to identify nursing actions provided to women in prison.

This is a bibliographical review of the literature, performed in November 2019, in the Virtual Health Library Portal. Thus, the guiding question was elaborated: "What are the strategies used by Nursing in the care provided to women in prison?". Thus, the descriptors used were Nursing Care, Penitentiary. And Women associated with the Boolean operator AND, totaling 22 articles. Applying the inclusion criteria, there were 15 articles available in the databases identified as LILACS, BDENF and MEDLINE. There was no limitation on the year of publication or language. After a careful analysis, four articles were excluded because they were not directly related to the guiding question of the study, thus, 10 articles were selected for the study. Thus, xx articles were selected for review. Of the xx articles found, x article was published in 201x, x in 201x, x in 201x. Having a 201x publication supremacy.

Of the selected articles, five reported that the profile of female prisoners is primarily young, with a low socioeconomic and educational level, without performing a paid function. In addition, they sometimes have a broken family without access to vocational training. These facts may be directly related to the prison situation of such women. Thus, three studies mention that they need to deal with overcrowding, confinement, poor hygiene and housing conditions, and various forms of physical and psychological violence. Thus, it is appropriate to mention that this reality can directly influence the health-disease process and the health needs of women in prison. Thus, two articles mention that care for these women is of paramount importance, not only because they are in a favorable environment, but also because they are in need of preventive assistance from health professionals. According to Galvão & Davim³ the absence of health actions is one of the most serious aspects affecting the Brazilian prison system, which significantly impairs the well-being of those involved. According to Souza et al.,⁴ the nurse has a fundamental role in the health service in all the contexts that the client is inserted, as he gives care and welcomes the individual, besides articulating education and promotion actions for the health. Two articles report that the nursing staff in the prison system could function in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team, similar to a Basic Health Unit in order to provide necessary support. In addition, it is mentioned that nursing consultation is very relevant to guide and assist detainees regarding other health problems. In addition, the nurse should act in assisting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Thus, there was a need to plan educational strategies to promote reproductive health that encompass the social peculiarities experienced.

This study provided an understanding that nursing care in face of this situation is significant than aiming at the careful and individualized assessment of each patient. In this context, for this care to obtain its objective and relevant that the nursing professional is scientifically based, thus instituting actions and activities able to meet the real needs of prison patients under their responsibility. In addition, it was noticed that health care in Brazilian jails is scarce. Therefore, despite the restrictions, qualified activities can be performed using effective, integral, humanized and individualized therapy, contributing greatly to the improvement of quality of life.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

1. Andrade Anny BCA, Gonçalves MJF. Prison maternity: maternal and neonatal outcomes / Motherhood in prison regime: maternal and neonatal outcomes.​ Rev. sick UFPE on line. 2018;12(6):1763‒1771.
2. Santos MV, Valdecyr, Audrey Vidal, et al. The physical health of women deprived of their liberty in a prison in the state of Rio de Janeiro. ​ Esc Anna Nery. 2017;21(2):1‒7.
3. Galvão, MCB, Davim RMB. No assistance to penitential carrier situation manager. ​Cogitare Enferm. 2013;18(3):452‒459.
4. Souza GC, Cabral KDS, Leite-Salgueiro CDB. Reflections on caring for nursing women: a integrative review study. UNIPAR Health Sciences Archives. 2018;22(1):55‒62.