Comparison of illness episodes in a pluralistic setting.

Episodes of illness in two different groups of women of the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, were compared using a longitudinal-panel design. The data reported are part of a larger study that concentrated on family units from representative cultural groupings of this region. The method of procedure facilitated the retrieval and analysis of different types of symptoms that have salience in the native medical perspectives of the people. Queries regarding symptoms dealt with illnesses that had occurred during the preceding 2 weeks. The duration, in days, and the proportion of an illness taken up with the various types of symptoms were compared in the two groups. The way the women perceived the severity of illness was also analyzed. Group differences in these parameters were observed and discussed. The method of procedure, which reflected a holistic and integrated view of disease, proved flexible, useful, and was easily applied in a field setting.