Análisis con perspectiva de género sobre percepción y prácticas en enfermedad coronaria en mujeres en el norte de México

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the perception of coronary risk and health care practices in a group of Mexican women, from a gendered perspective. Materials and methods. Mixed methods: survey of 140 women; nine in-depth interviews to women with coronary disease; eight semi-structured interviews to physicians. Analysis: proportions contrast for quantitative data; and procedures of grounded theory for qualitative information. Results. More than 50% of women don't know their coronary risk and how to reduce it. Despite having information about heart disease, vulnerable women with chest pain sought medical attendance less than nonvulnerable women (p=0.01); and are blamed by physicians. Women consider they lack sufficient information about how to reduce the risk of coronary disease, and blame themselves when ill. Conclusions. There are vulnerability conditions in women that modulate a low perception of their being at risk, and the scarcity of health care practices.