Experiences of motherhood in a women's prison Rio Grande do Sul State

This study aims to describe the characteristics of women imprisoned (in the company of children or pregnant women) who are trapped in a closed state of Rio Grande do Sul. The research was performed with empirical delineament quantitative and qualitative, using a cross-sectional descriptive study. The thirty-one women who were housed in the gallery specifically to house the mothers with their children in the study. The findings show that the profile is characterized by being single, young, have at least three children have pursued activities with low social status and / or economics, has studied up to the Elementary School, and is responding to the crime of drug trafficking. Most women had contact with the prison environment prior to incarceration through visits. All participants have a family member who has been arrested. A high prevalence of tobacco use and dependence on other drugs. Many of these women continued to use these drugs during pregnancy. The experience of motherhood within the prison led to reducing pain, decreasing the negative effects included the arrest, cessation of drug use and the opportunity to be a mother.