[A hearing in prison: health needs perceived by women deprived of freedom]

To identify the perceived necessities and proposals for health action of women committed to a detention centre.

A study of needs through a method of social intervention, the hearing.

The detention centre of the penitentiary of Valencia (Picassent). The area of application is primary care in the penitentiary.

38 women were chosen on criteria of proportional representation in line with the profile of the total number of women (112) who lived in module 8 of the centre, and according to agreed defining variables such as age, ethnic background and drugs consumption.

The women's replies showed they had an integrated view of the concept of health. They identified HIV/AIDS infection, drugs and food as the health problems that most concerned them; and formulated proposals aiming at actions on these and other aspects such as personal relationships, psychological problems and their surrounds.

The method employed was shown to be useful for identifying the needs and proposals of women deprived of liberty. This information could certainly be used to discuss and rework with the inmates themselves, so as to win their participation in the actions decided on.