ABSTRACT
Objective
To analyze how incarcerated women perceive their health care using Wanda de Aguiar Horta's Theory of Basic Human Needs.
Method
a descriptive and exploratory study using the qualitative method, conducted with eight women who answered a semi-structured interview. The material resulting from the interviews was interpreted according to Bardin's content analysis and based on Wanda Horta's Theory of Basic Human Needs.
Results
Two thematic categories emerged: impaired basic human needs and what do women think about health care? The non-attendance to psychobiological and psychosocial needs was observed through reports of unhealthy environment, excessive number of women in the cell, diseases presented and inefficiency regarding health care.
Conclusions and implications for practice
In addition to safety, improvements in confinement conditions and access to health care should be taken in account in order to meet basic human needs. The study contributes to the reflection on the health care of incarcerated women, giving visibility to the theme.
Keywords:
Prisons; Delivery of health care; Women's health; Nursing theory