Objective

To interpret the perception of indigenous chontal patients about their disease and the quality in the control of type 2 diabetes in the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Materials and methods

Qualitative research was conducted in three medical units that provide attention to the indigenous Chontal population. 44 people with type 2 diabetes participated in four focus groups. Interview guides and group dynamics were used. For the analysis of the data, the MAXQDA 2018 software was used. The most representative speeches were integrated, these were documented, organized, categorized and codified.

Results

The speeches of the Chontal Indians reveal that the problems they perceive to achieve quality in the control of their disease are: their precarious economic situation, inequality and lag to receive medical care, poor family support, doctor's hegemony in care, domestic violence in the case of women, the need to be treated as people and not as a disease, the way they decipher their disease, based on myths and mistaken beliefs.

Conclusions

The results of this study show that the worldview of people to understand the diabetes they suffer and achieve their metabolic control, is key for health services in improving quality.

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