Background: this review reveals the needs of inmate mothers from different perspectives: as women, wives, and mothers, as well as their physical, mental and social characteristics, going through their histories of violence, traumas, victimization, and the impact of separation on the family ties especially with their children. Methods: an integrative bibliographic review was carried out in databases of Biomedicine, Sociology, Nursing, Anthropology and Psychology, as well as original articles, online reviews, national and international books published between 1993 and 2017 were included. Findings: out of 7950 articles found, 50 were selected taking into account the interests of the research. With the analysis conducted, 5 categories emerged: Characterization (16 %), Social status (20 %), Mental health (22 %), Gender (16 %), Mother-child relationship (10 %), Intervention programs (16 %); Being mental health and social conditions the most studied variable and to a lesser extent the mother-child relationship, we should state that the work has as their first author “Women”, highlighting the gender approach. Conclusion: incarceration with a gender focus is given mostly by female authors, where vital aspects such as jail conditions, sociodemographic characteristics, maternity, mental health, social condition, and mother-child relations, were seen to be neglected by the system with very few interventions and types of control. The condition of female prisoners continues to be framed by social inequality, and it is necessary to incorporate these mothers’ needs into fundamental and solid strategies so we can restore their human rights.