Prison policy and guarantee of comprehensive care to the health of the child who lives together with mother deprived of freedom, Mozambique

ABSTRACT The provision of health care implies the principle of fundamental human rights, emphasized by Mozambique, an emerging nation, when considering health as a good for the sustainable development provided for the Constitution of the Republic, and assured in an equitable manner. However, there is a worrying entrance into the prison system of women with young children who lack access guarantee and special health care. The main objective of this study was to analyze and describe how the comprehensive health care policy for children aged 0-5 years, established by the National Health Service in Mozambique, is incorporated into the Prison Health Care Service. The qualitative approach focused on mothers with small children residing in the Ndlavela prison, taking into account the variables that only described the socioeconomic, demographic conditions and the ones related to biological conditions of women with children. Two pregnant women and five mothers in cohabitation with children participated in the study, through interviews. The data collected were treated by the Bardin content analysis. These women are young, single, low schooling, without adequate nutritional and health support and were abandoned by their families of origin or formed, and who were engaged in domestic activities and informal trade activities. It was observed that this group is doubly vulnerable and socially marginalized, because it is not favored by public health policies. It is concluded that the health policy needs to be unfolded, turning to the need and importance of a more egalitarian, adequate and resolutive health care, regardless of the legal situation, which is why it is emphasized that this reality is still far from the one recommended for health care in prisons.