[Cultural dimensions concerning healthcare workers in México and Colombia having dengue].

OBJECTIVE Understanding cultural dimensions concerning Mexican and Colombian healthcare workers suffering from dengue to produce information and elements for healthcare and prevention. METHOD This was a cognitive anthropological study. Purposive sampling was used to select 197 healthcare workers in Morelia, Mexico, and Santiago de Cali, Colombia; free associations lists and pile sorting were used. Terms associated with the concept of dengue and conceptual dimension groups were investigated. RESULTS Participants cultural conceptions regarding dengue in Mexico emphasised prevention, whilst those in Colombia concentrated on biomedical language and symptoms. Overall, a holistic vision was shown which included a medical vision and related social aspects. CONCLUSIONS Health professionals require more information about dengue and its prevention.