Amor e prisão: percepções das relações afetivas sexuais de mulheres em cumprimento de pena no estado do Piauí

Abstract

The prison system has long been a subject of legal and social discourse, primarily focused on the male population due to their majority within the prison system. However, discussions regarding incarcerated women have become increasingly necessary despite their smaller numbers, as the female prison population has been growing exponentially worldwide. The rise in female criminality is a phenomenon intertwined with various social segments and historical contexts, reflecting women's increased participation in society, including in criminal activities. In light of these considerations, the general objective of this research is to analyze perceptions of sexual affective relationships among women serving sentences in closed regime prisons. Specifically, the study aimed to: identify the influence of incarceration on the maintenance of sexual affective bonds; understand the impact of intimate visits on the lives of incarcerated women; evaluate the effects of incarceration on these women's mental health. Thus, two studies were proposed: Study I - Affective relationships and female incarceration: A scoping review. This aimed to map scientific productions addressing incarcerated women and affective relationships within prison, providing an overview of the discussion on the loss of affective bonds among incarcerated women and suggesting further research to achieve the initial objective. However, it is necessary to suggest the need for more theoretical and empirical studies on the subject in national and international databases, as there is a lack of research correlating affective bonds and women in carceral situations. Study II - Perceptions of sexual affective relationships among women serving sentences in the state of Piauí. This mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) exploratory study was conducted in two female penitentiaries in Piauí State, with the participation of 49 women aged 18 years and older. Data collection included a sociodemographic questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). All ethical norms established by Resolution No. 466/2012 and 510/2016 of the National Health Council were followed, and the study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 22, employing measures of central tendency (frequency, mean, median) and dispersion (standard deviation) to describe participants' sociodemographic characteristics, as well as frequency for scale analyses. Textual qualitative data were analyzed using IRAMUTEQ software (Interface de Repourles Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Texteset de Questionnaires version 0.7), which included Word Cloud, Similarity Analysis, and Classification by Reinert Method. The results showed that the majority of inmates were first-time offenders (57.1%) who received family visits (63.3%). They were on average 25 years old when committing their first offense and had been incarcerated for approximately 15 months. Before imprisonment, 49% were employed, but only 4.1% had formal employment; currently, 32.7% work in prison. Only 6.1% receive intimate visits. While the majority (95.9%) receive medical care, only 59.2%

receive guidance on STIs. Regarding the perception of mental distress measured by the Self- Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), 71.1% of the sample presented an average score indicating

signs of mental distress. In terms of qualitative interview content, the textual corpus consisted of 49 interviews resulting in 258 textual segments with 8,918 words. Among these, there were 1,319 word forms, with 678 mentioned only once (equivalent to 7.6% of words). Word Cloud analysis revealed 26 terms with frequencies above 20 repetitions in the textual corpus, reflecting concerns and experiences related to intimate visits among women. Words such as "people," "receive," and "good" may indicate the importance of such contact and positive interactions during these encounters. Similarity analysis revealed five distinct word clouds, each representing different themes and aspects of the reported experiences. Finally, Hierarchical Descendant Classification (HDC), composed of 74.42% (192) of the total textual segments in the corpus, resulted in four distinct classes, each representing a thematic category

derived from the analyzed texts, named as follows: Class 1 - Intimate Visit: Needs and Challenges; Class 2 - Intimate Visit: Meanings and Desires; Class 3 - Challenges and Transformations: Experiences Amidst the World of Drugs; Class 4 - Challenges in Prison Assistance. It is concluded that intimate visits are essential for the emotional well-being of female inmates, providing emotional support and relief from the stresses of incarceration. The demand for improvements in visitation policies reflects an urgent need for more suitable conditions and increased frequency of these encounters. To facilitate effective reintegration of women after incarceration, public policies and programs should be redesigned to address their specific needs and promote a more humane and inclusive prison environment.