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.