Birth behind bars: care practice directed towards pregnant women, mothers of newborns, and newborns in incarceration

Abstract

This study is an experiment that attempted to develop a care practice directed towards pregnant women, mothers of newborns, and newborns in incarceration, as oriented by Orem’s General Theory of Nursing. This process was developed at the Female Correctional Clinic of Santa Catarina between August and October of 2005. The participating group consisted of 12 pregnant women or mothers of newborns and 06 newborns. The theoretical reference was carried out through the nursing process and the data was collected through interviews and observation, through consultancy, and collective approaches. The results provide a better comprehension of the relationships of care and self-care adopted by these women, as well as the values of civil society and the correctional universe which are established in this reality.