Continuidade do Cuidado às Gestantes Privadas de Liberdade:

Desafios na Articulação entre o Sistema Prisional e a Rede de Atenção à Saúde

Abstract

Pregnancy in contexts of deprivation of liberty requires articulation between health services within the prison system and the different points of the Health Care Network to ensure comprehensive care throughout the pregnancy-puerperal cycle. This study analyzes the challenges to continuity of care for pregnant women deprived of liberty in the articulation between the prison system and the Health Care Network. A narrative literature review was conducted in association with documentary analysis of national policies, guidelines, and regulations. The search included publications available in the Virtual Health Library, LILACS, and SciELO, as well as official documents from the Ministry of Health and the National Secretariat for Penal Policies, including materials available through August 2026, in order to incorporate evidence, official data, and regulatory updates related to prison health and maternal and child care. The findings show that, despite the inclusion of prison health services in the network of the Unified Health System, weaknesses persist regarding timely access to care, communication between services, transportation, referral and counter-referral mechanisms, and follow-up after transitions of care. The study concludes that continuity of care requires, in addition to consultations and procedures, formalized care pathways, clearly defined responsibilities, and effective integration among prison health services, regulation systems, and the maternal and child health network.