Young men in juvenile detention centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: gender, sexuality, masculinity and health implications

Abstract

This article presents results for young men’s health based on an intervention-study on gender, sexuality, and health of adolescents and young men in conflict with the law, deprived of their freedom, and subject to socio-educational confinement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The themes addressed included questions on overall health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health, analyzed from a relational gender perspective and social construction of masculinities. The majority of these young men are black, from low-income communities, with low schooling levels, and ranging in age from 14 to 21 years of age; some of them are fathers. The study showed that these young men have been exposed to police and social violence from a very early age and have been deprived of their freedom due to involvement with the drug traffic, homicides, or episodes of sexual violence. The male and female health professionals that work with them report that the most common health problems are skin conditions, mental disorders, and sexually transmissible infections. Male chauvinism and rigid notions of gender and sexuality are important factors in the views of these young men on health (especially sexual and reproductive). Their discourse takes violence and paternity for granted as important signs in the public demonstration of masculinity. There is an urgent need to include discussions on gender and sexuality in health professionals’ training and activities with these young men. It is also necessary to call attention to the strong influence of gender concepts, social group, and sexual orientation in practices, interpersonal relations, and health promotion.

Depression, anxiety, and drug usage history indicators among institutionalized juvenile offenders of Brasilia

“…In conclusion, although the present study was not focused on clinical diagnosis or psychiatric and psychological interventions, our findings that institutionalized juvenile offenders exhibited potentially concerning levels of depression, anxiety, and prior drug abuse may be useful for targeting intervention measures to treat or even prevent the emotional distress in this population and other similar ones. Some previously reported Brazilian studies have indicated a prevalence of psychiatric medicalization instead of other types of therapy in juvenile offenders deprived of liberty (Nascimento, Uziel, and Hernández, 2018;Vilarins, 2014). The fact that depression and anxiety indicators showed to be independent of the drug abuse profile may contribute to better targeting of these actions.…”

The Changing Landscape: Geospatial, Epidemiologic Characteristics and Infectious Diseases of Inmates Living in a Region with a High Number of Prisons, Brazil

“…Most Brazilian studies on infectious diseases in prisons were conducted in just one or in a few units. [17-18] HIV was the most prevalent infectious disease diagnosed with prevalence rates of 0.68%, lower than 1.3% suggested by countrywide national data. [19] In the western region, all inmates diagnosed with HIV are treated and are followed by specialists in reference centers in Presidente Prudente.…”

Masculinidades no Cárcere: Homens que Visitam suas Parceiras Privadas de Liberdade

“…Ciro cuida da mãe idosa e cria os dois filhos mais velhos. Tais narrativas destoam do que comumente é associado à masculinidade hegemônica (Nascimento et al, 2018), sobretudo no âmbito prisional, na qual o exercício do cuidado é entendido como atestado de fragilidade e feminilidade (Santos, & Nardi, 2014).…”

“…Mesmo quando nos deslocamos da privação para a restrição da liberdade, das unidades prisionais para os que cometem crimes em direção às socioeducativas para os que cometem infrações, encontramos referências a essas masculinidades viris, agora nomeadas "hegemônicas" e indicadas como frequentes entre jovens (Nascimento, Uziel, & Hernandez, 2018). Segundo os autores dessa pesquisa-ação com mais de uma centena de interlocutores em algumas unidades, o machismo e as noções rígidas de gênero e sexualidade são fatores importantes nas concepções desses jovens sobre saúde, especialmente sexual e reprodutiva, sendo que os internos proferem discursos que naturalizam a violência e a paternidade como signos importantes da demonstração pública da masculinidade.…”