COVID-19 in prison

Male inmate's experiences in overisolation

Abstract

Objective: to know the experiences of men deprived of liberty subjected to post-diagnosis of COVID-19 social isolation. Method: exploratory and descriptive research, with a qualitative approach, in a male prison complex in the Federal District. 31 inmates who were in superisolation participated, after testing positive for COVID-19. Data were collected between June and July 2021, using two instruments: socioeconomic questionnaire and semi-structured interview script. The content of the interviews was analyzed using the ALCESTE software. Results: the analysis revealed the existence of two significant axes. The first, called “Confronting Superisolation”, was formed by three classes named reorganization of routines, meaning of life and death and death of the self. The second, called “Coping with the Disease”, consists of two categories called physical and emotional symptoms of COVID-19 and information for managing COVID-19. The speeches made it possible to identify that physical activities and religious practice were the main ways of coping in the period of over-isolation. The impact on emotions and psychological symptoms were manifested with anxiety, anguish, fear of death and concern about the family's illness. Conclusion: the study made it possible to know the ways of coping used by inmates during superisolation, in addition to indicating the importance of carrying out health actions that promote comprehensive care for people deprived of their liberty in periods of disease outbreaks, as was the case of the pandemic. of COVID-19.