Communicational interaction processes of children whose mother is imprisoned in the Women's jail of Quito

Abstract

The problem related to childhood and prison is a subject hardly analyzed from the  communication field, so the objective of this article is to expose the processes of communicational interaction that occur between mothers and children that remain inside the Female Rehabilitation Social Center (RSC) of Quito, Ecuador. The methodological strategy was based on a non-experimental design, of a transversal nature, through a qualitative approach through the technique of in-depth interviews and non-participant observation; the instruments used were the questionnaire, field diary and observation sheets. The research team approached mothers and their sons and daughters, who voluntarily decided to participate in the study. The main findings it is evident that the communicational interaction between mothers and their children is marked by a close relationship and with an adequate time for mothers to be aware of their children; however, the dynamics and prison environment generate complex situations of handling for both. It is concluded that the creation of accompaniment spaces for mothers and their children is fundamental, so that the interaction between the actors of the RSC, and mainly, between mothers and children, can be a favorable element for harmonic relationships based on dialogue and empathy.