Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify the content and the organization of social representations on health and disease of an adult population of Guadalajara, Mexico, and to describe differences between the points of view of men and women. METHODOLOGY: The methodology was structured focus groups of the social representations: associative methods of open listing and paired comparisons were used. The participant population was men and women of Guadalajara city, Mexico. They were selected by purpose sampling. The final analysis generates graphs of words on social representations organization of health and disease concepts. RESULTS: The health concept had a holistic vision; including physical, emotional and spiritual aspects. Cleaning and to have a job is fundamental for prevention of disease. Men emphasise not having bad habits and women great interpersonal relationships. The disease concept includes biological and social points of view, such as physical deficiency, altered emotional status, the treatment and care of disease. Men emphasised the economic expense of medical care, and the women, the physical exhaustion of caring for sick people. CONCLUSION: The proposals for the health educational practice are the inclusion of the gender point of view, respect for religious beliefs, emotional control and integral care.