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 non-vulnerable women (p=0.0l); 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.

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