[Health in the prison system: representations and practices by prison guards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Saúde em prisões: representações e práticas dos agentes de segurança penitenciária no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The role of prison guards in limiting access to health services by inmates and the impact of their representations on daily health practices were investigated through an action-research program. The program aimed to produce knowledge and improve the guards' involvement in tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS control by raising their awareness. Developed in three prisons and two hospitals, the study included individual interviews and group discussions and showed that representations of health and illness, risk hierarchy, and preventive strategies are related to actors' status in the prison's social organization, the conflicts and tensions between them, and the sense of group belonging that reinforces identities and antagonisms. Such representations have a major influence on the guards' daily practices and inmates' access to health services. The denial of inmates' right to health and their limited autonomy contributed to the implementation of essentially prescriptive health actions. The guards' awareness of their own health representations and practices may contribute to the deconstruction of stereotypes and increase their involvement in prevention and care. Further, improvement of inmates' health depends on changes in prison conditions.

Saúde em prisões: representações e práticas dos agentes de segurança penitenciária no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Health in the prison system: representations and practices by prison guards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

O papel limitante dos agentes de segurança penitenciária no acesso dos detentos aos serviços sanitários e o impacto de suas representações e práticas de saúde no cotidiano prisional foram objeto de pesquisa-ação visando tanto à produção de conhecimento como à melhoria das ações de controle da tuberculose e HIV/AIDS pela participação e conscientização. Desenvolveu-se em três prisões e dois hospitais por meio de entrevistas individuais e grupos de discussão. Revelou que concepções de saúde e doença, hierarquização de riscos e estratégias de preservação no contexto carcerário relacionam-se às posições nessa organização social, aos conflitos e tensões ali existentes e aos pertencimentos grupais que reforçam identidades e antagonismos, refletindo-se nas práticas rotineiras e no acesso aos serviços. A negação da saúde como um direito dos presos e a restrição de sua autonomia contribuem para ações de saúde prescritivas. A tomada de consciência dos agentes de segurança penitenciária quanto às representações e práticas de saúde pode contribuir para a desconstrução de idéias estereotipadas e aumentar seu envolvimento nas ações de prevenção e assistência. A melhoria das condições de saúde dos detentos implica também mudanças nas condições de encarceramento.

The role of prison guards in limiting access to health services by inmates and the impact of their representations on daily health practices were investigated through an action-research program. The program aimed to produce knowledge and improve the guards' involvement in tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS control by raising their awareness. Developed in three prisons and two hospitals, the study included individual interviews and group discussions and showed that representations of health and illness, risk hierarchy, and preventive strategies are related to actors' status in the prison's social organization, the conflicts and tensions between them, and the sense of group belonging that reinforces identities and antagonisms. Such representations have a major influence on the guards' daily practices and inmates' access to health services. The denial of inmates' right to health and their limited autonomy contributed to the implementation of essentially prescriptive health actions. The guards' awareness of their own health representations and practices may contribute to the deconstruction of stereotypes and increase their involvement in prevention and care. Further, improvement of inmates' health depends on changes in prison conditions.