title: The need to improve health care in prisons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze physical structure, working conditions of health professionals and outline of the procedures established in prisons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 34 provisional detention centers and 69 male and six female prison units in the state of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, in 2009. A self-applied instrument was developed to collect quantitative data on the characteristics of health care structure, equipment and personnel in prisons. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) or equivalent non-parametric tests and Chi-square or Fisher's tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, respectively, between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main problems were delays in the results of laboratory tests and imaging. With respect to the teams, it was observed that a large majority were in conditions close to those proposed by the Bipartite Commission 2013 but without improvement being reflected in the indicators. With respect to the process, more than 60.0% of prisons located in small towns do not have the structural conditions to ensure secondary or tertiary health care for the continuity of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This profile of prisons in the country can be used for planning and monitoring future actions for the continuous improvement of healthcare processes.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Henrique
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos Willie
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Social, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciane Loures dos
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pazin Filho
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires