Abstract
Objective: To identify the main health problems faced by inmates of a prison system. Methods: This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. It was carried out in the prison unit of the municipality of Santa Izabel, located in the Metropolitan region of the State of Pará, located 38 km from the capital Belém and had as participants six nurses. The data collection was guided by a semi-structured interview in two lines: identification of the profile of the interviewees and interview on the aggravations and prison assistance, and to analyze the data was used content analysis. Results: Several diseases with relevance to Tuberculosis were identified. Nursing care has faced challenges regarding the safety of the actions according to the characteristics of the service, however, these professionals have sought to qualify against the special condition of the work. Conclusion: The aggravations in the penal system under study align with the reality of other scenarios in the same condition. Nursing care sensitive to the reality and needs of these places can also contribute to the control of the various diseases mentioned.