Desvendando o itinerário terapêutico de pessoas privadas de liberdade sob o olhar dos profissionais de uma instituição APAC

Abstract

Brazil has the third-largest prison population in the world under precarious conditions, which hinders access to basic rights such as healthcare. Understanding the therapeutic itinerary can help identify the challenges faced and the needs of this population. This study aimed to understand the therapeutic itineraries of women deprived of liberty at an Association for Protection and Assistance to Convicts (APAC) in a municipality in eastern Minas Gerais from the perspective of the institution's staff. This is a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach conducted between June and August 2024 through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subsequently analyzed. The analysis resulted in two categories: “Open Doors? Access and Healthcare Assistance for Women Deprived of Liberty” and “The Reality of Medications in Prison.” The results highlight the high use of mental health medications and reveal that access to healthcare is a major challenge due to the lack of implementation of public policies. These findings indicate the need for the implementation of public policies and a reflection on the effectiveness of existing actions to improve access to healthcare in a way that meets the demands of this population.