Imagem corporal em mulheres privadas de liberdade

Abstract

The construction of subjectivity in relation to the body occurs throughout live, and in incarcerated women, life conditions imposed by the imprisonment can strengthen or influence body image (BI) perception. This study analyzed the BI distortion and dissatisfaction and its associated factors in incarcerated women in closed regime of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A observational cross-sectional study was conducted with the 18 to 57 year-old imprisoned women. An interview was conducted regarding personal sociodemographic information (age, education, family income, marital status, time of confinement, visitation frequency and number of children), and measured their weight and height in order to calculate Body Mass Index. BI was evaluated by using a Figure Rating Scale for Brazilian adults (FRS). Prevalence Ratio and its respective Confidence Interval of 95% were taken into consideration to investigate the strength of the association between the dependent (distortion and dissatisfaction of BI) and independent variables. The concordance between BMI-A and BMI-E was verified by the Bland-Altman method. Participants presented, in average, 31.7 (± 8.48) years old, 27.67 Kg/m² of BMI-A. Approximately 65% had excessive weight, of which 27.8% were obese. BI distortion was present in 83.3% of the participants. Amongst these women, 82.7% overestimated their body size, adding in average 5.59 Kg/m² (± 2.73) to their real body. Most of the participants (91.6%) expressed dissatisfaction with their own body. Although the majority expressed the desire to have a BMI 9.01 Kg/m² (± 5.25) lower, one third of them aspired to enlarge their body in 6.43 Kg/m² (+ 4.34). Sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status (PR = 0.99 95%CI 0.89-1.11) and time of confinement (PR = 1.06 95% CI 0.94-1.19) were independently associated with their BI dissatisfaction. No associations were found between BI distortion and incarceration time (PR = 1.17 95% CI 0.96-1.42), or nutritional status (PR = 1.10 and 95% CI 0.89-1.36). We conclude that the majority of the incarcerated women are dissatisfied with their BI and present distorted BI, revealing the need for such aspects to be included in health promotion activities in the prison system.