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(Re)existence and power of life: integrative and complementary practices in health for prisoners

Abstract

This study aimed to discuss how the Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health (ICPH) have been a possibility of health and existence to inmates who attend the Cultural Association of the Development of the Inmate and Egress (ACUDA) of Porto Velho, RO. An ethnographic research was conducted during four months of participant observations of daily activities promoted by the Association as well as in-depth interviews with inmates and staff. ACUDA assisted about ninety prisoners in close custody from three prisons in the city. Their daily routine in ACUDA included, in addition to offering ICPH, labor, educational, leisure and spiritual activities. Based on a poststructuralist analysis of the data and focusing the trajectories of two prisoners, it is discussed how ICPH presented itself as life enhancers. The ICPH enhanced life power from Practices of Affection, Care, Freedom and Citizenship, showing to be an important tool of subjective change, opening other meaning and life possibilities for prisoners. It is argued that, in order to have an effective social reintegration of prisoners, practices aimed to individual transformation need to be combined with broad social changes that recognize the citizenship and rights of these people.

Keywords:
Complementary Therapies; Prisons; Power of life; Self Care

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