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. 2023 Aug;62(4):2916-2932.
doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01781-z. Epub 2023 Mar 6.

The Role of Religion and Spirituality to Cope with COVID-19 Infections Among People of Lower Socioeconomic Status in Pakistan: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Muhammad Rizwan Safdar  1 , Muhammad Akram  2 , Akhlaq Ahmad  1 , Adeela Arshad Ayaz  3
Affiliations

The Role of Religion and Spirituality to Cope with COVID-19 Infections Among People of Lower Socioeconomic Status in Pakistan: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Muhammad Rizwan Safdar et al. J Relig Health. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Religion and spirituality have been key coping mechanisms of Pakistani Muslims amidst natural calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify and explore the role of religion and spirituality in the recovery of COVID-19 patients in lower socioeconomics. The data for this qualitative research study were collected from 13 people in Pakistan who survived COVID-19 infection during the wave of the Omicron variant. The participants of this study referenced four key themes about their story of getting infected by COVID-19 and recovering from it and referenced religion and spirituality as an overarching aspect of that story. The patients who recovered believed that COVID-19 was a punishment from God for sinful humanity, which was unavoidable. Amidst such a belief, the studied patients tried to avoid hospitalization but prayed to God for mercy, forgiveness, and help in their recovery. A few who took medical treatment also established and/or strengthened their spiritual connections seeking quick recovery from the infection. The participants of this study believed that their religion or spirituality played a medicinal role in their recovery from COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pakistan; Religion; Spirituality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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