Prevalence and violence-associated factors in the work environment of female prison guards in Brazil

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 2989 - 3002
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Marcelo José Monteiro, Macena, Raimunda Hermelinda Maia, Mota, Rosa Maria Salani, Pires, Neto, Roberto da Justa, Silva, Ageo Mário Cândido da, Vieira, Luiza Jane Eyre Sousa, Kendall, Bernard Carl, Kerr, Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-09-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Brazil - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prisons - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Sexual Harassment - statistics & numerical data; Social Support; Workplace Violence - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232017229.11092017

This article aims to estimate the prevalence and violence-associated factors in the work environment of female correctional officers in Brazil. A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in 15 female correctional facilities in Brazil's five regions. Pearson's chi-square test was performed. The Odds Ratio and Confidence Intervals were estimated for factors that showed a significant association or were confounding factors. The prevalence of having experienced at least one violent occurrence during professional duty as an officer was 28.4%. An interesting factor is fact that agents themselves are identified as the main suspects of robbery (74.6%), moral violence (68.1%) and sexual harassment (66.8%) against their co-workers. Working in more than one correctional facility increased the chance of suffering from violence (OR = 3.23; CI = 1.51 - 6.9). The main associated factors are: working in temporary detention centers, age of admission to the prison system and low social support among co-workers. Violence in the Brazilian prison environment is of great magnitude and considered a complex phenomenon with multiple causes. To combat this, it is necessary to adopt intersectoral actions, capable of intervening both in the prison environment and in society.