Perspectivas de Pessoas Idosas Privadas de Liberdade em uma Instituição Prisional na Amazônia Oriental, Distrito de Icoaraci, Belém (Pa)

Abstract

Introduction: The significant increase in the number of elderly people worldwide and in Brazil forces us to face new concerns and challenges. In this context, the elderly prison population is also impacted, notably in the Amazon region. Objective: To identify the perspectives of elderly people deprived of liberty in a prison institution in the Eastern Amazon, District of Icoaraci, Belém (Pa). Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory, quantitative-qualitative (mixed) crosssectional study, carried out with elderly inmates living in a Prison Institution. The sample consisted of 22 elderly people serving a prison sentence. Data were collected using the following instruments 1) Biopsychosocial questionnaire and 2) semi-structured interview, composed of questions prepared by the researcher. Results: Regarding the biopsychosocial profile, as relevant data, there is equality of married and single elderly people; predominance of first-timers through the penal system, conviction for crimes of a sexual nature, making the length of sentences long, presence in the majority of the evangelical religion, without fixed income, with some type of health problem prior to entering the penal system; it was reported that there are safety concerns in 95.45% of the sample and that only 22.73% feel safe. Regarding the interviews, the findings revealed that 63.64% do not carry out any socio-educational activity and that 90.91% do not have any work activity; it was demonstrated that 63.64% of the sample had regular visits, however, in another variable, 79.22% reported having broken family ties; 100% of the sample reported the prospect of a normal life after serving their sentence; 90.91% reported a feeling of full capacity to carry out plans when released; It was also observed that, in all reports, the prison institution taught something. Conclusion: Considering the results, it is concluded that the prison environment contributes to the loss of quality of life and intensifies the aging process of the group analyzed, which depends on good prison management practices that are more appropriate for this population, such as separating people of the other inmates and the availability of caregivers to those most needed, this reality can be alleviated. And finally, it is believed that the dissemination of successful practices does not deal with elderly people institutionalized in a prison environment, these become public policies for greater protection and support for the physical and mental health of this population. It is suggested to include in the regulations of the penitentiary system, specific rights for elderly people serving their sentences, thus guaranteeing a better quality of life.