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Nutrients
Volume 17
Issue 9
10.3390/nu17091428
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Article

Cardiovascular Disease in Women’s Prisons: A Qualitative Study of Dietary Habits from the Perspective of Professionals

by
Ana Margarida Machado
1,
Iara Rafaela Ferreira
1,
Mariana Rodrigues
2,
Adriana Taveira
1,3,
Francisca Linhares
2 and
Ana Paula Macedo
1,*
1
Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Coimbra School of Nursing, 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
2
Postgraduate Programme in Nursing (PPGENF), Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50670-901, Brazil
3
Higher School of Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091428
Submission received: 27 February 2025 / Revised: 19 April 2025 / Accepted: 22 April 2025 / Published: 24 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Nutrition–What to Eat to Get It Right)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is exacerbated by poor dietary habits, particularly in settings such as women’s prisons. Incarcerated women are often exposed to ultra-processed foods, limited nutritional education, and restricted living conditions that increase their risk of CVD. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the challenges perceived by professionals in a Portuguese women’s prison regarding the prevention of CVD, particularly through dietary interventions. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study was conducted using a focus group with six professionals. Data were collected in July 2024 and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Three thematic categories emerged: (1) contextual challenges of the prison system (e.g., sedentary lifestyle, limited food options); (2) socio-cultural resistance to behavioural change (e.g., low adherence to health programmes, use of food as a coping mechanism); and (3) the need for sustainable and interdisciplinary intervention strategies. Conclusions: The findings highlight the complexity of promoting cardiovascular health in female prisoners. Interventions need to take into account mental health support, prisoner autonomy and institutional constraints. Future research should develop and test targeted, context-specific nutrition programmes in similar settings.
Keywords: prison; women’s health; eating habits; cardiovascular diseases; social vulnerability prison; women’s health; eating habits; cardiovascular diseases; social vulnerability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Machado, A.M.; Ferreira, I.R.; Rodrigues, M.; Taveira, A.; Linhares, F.; Macedo, A.P. Cardiovascular Disease in Women’s Prisons: A Qualitative Study of Dietary Habits from the Perspective of Professionals. Nutrients 2025, 17, 1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091428

AMA Style

Machado AM, Ferreira IR, Rodrigues M, Taveira A, Linhares F, Macedo AP. Cardiovascular Disease in Women’s Prisons: A Qualitative Study of Dietary Habits from the Perspective of Professionals. Nutrients. 2025; 17(9):1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091428

Chicago/Turabian Style

Machado, Ana Margarida, Iara Rafaela Ferreira, Mariana Rodrigues, Adriana Taveira, Francisca Linhares, and Ana Paula Macedo. 2025. "Cardiovascular Disease in Women’s Prisons: A Qualitative Study of Dietary Habits from the Perspective of Professionals" Nutrients 17, no. 9: 1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091428

APA Style

Machado, A. M., Ferreira, I. R., Rodrigues, M., Taveira, A., Linhares, F., & Macedo, A. P. (2025). Cardiovascular Disease in Women’s Prisons: A Qualitative Study of Dietary Habits from the Perspective of Professionals. Nutrients, 17(9), 1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091428

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