Theater-based dengue prevention in a women's prison: a prison primary care Microintervention in rio de janeiro, Brazil

Dengue prevention in prisons is complicated by environmental vulnerability, institutional routines, and the limited reach of lecture-based health education. This descriptive experience report describes and analyzes the implementation of a theater-based microintervention by a prison primary care team in a women's prison in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conducted from July to November 2025, the intervention comprised six conversation circles, weekly preparatory workshops and rehearsals, a collectively developed play, one courtyard performance, and peer dissemination by nine incarcerated health monitors representing nine cells. Twelve incarcerated women participated directly in script development and performance, and more than 150 women were estimated to have been reached directly or indirectly. Routine process observations indicated active participation in content development, broader circulation of information on dengue symptoms, transmission, and breeding-site prevention, greater involvement of peer health monitors, and closer dialogue between the health team and incarcerated women. No pre-intervention/post-intervention knowledge test, comparison group, entomological measure, or clinical outcome assessment was conducted; effectiveness and causal impact therefore cannot be inferred. Participatory theater was feasible in this setting and may complement conventional health education when supported by intersectoral coordination, peer participation, and safeguards against coercion.