‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Background: After the outbreak of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified vaccines as one of the intervention mechanisms capable of controlling and preventing COVID-19 infections. However, the uptake of the vaccine was below the expectation, while the cause for such manifestation wa...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/707 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849429383496859648 |
|---|---|
| author | Thomas J. Ndaluka Ambrose T. Kessy Chima E. Onuekwe |
| author_facet | Thomas J. Ndaluka Ambrose T. Kessy Chima E. Onuekwe |
| author_sort | Thomas J. Ndaluka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: After the outbreak of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified vaccines as one of the intervention mechanisms capable of controlling and preventing COVID-19 infections. However, the uptake of the vaccine was below the expectation, while the cause for such manifestation was unclear.
Aim: This study aimed to examine the attitude of Pentecostal believers towards COVID-19 vaccines in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The focus was to investigate the role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations.
Setting: This study was conducted at three Pentecostal churches, namely Arise and Shine Ministry, Ufufuo na Uzima Ministry and Tanzania Assemblies of God – Makongo-juu, all located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: The study employed qualitative interviews to generate information from 55 Pentecostal believers.
Results: Findings from this study attest that the attitude of Pentecostal believers towards COVID-19 vaccines was mixed; some hesitated to be vaccinated and another quarter accepted vaccination. Despite being provided free of charge, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine was attributed to the social-ecological factors that the individuals were in.
Conclusion: Religion has remained a key factor for hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among believers. The best way to increase acceptance of COVID-19 among believers, is to have an appreciation of the socio-cultural and ecological environment where Individuals’ member resources are stored. Acceptance of COVID- 19 was not only related to scientific and medical factors, but rather religious issue as well.
Contribution: It contributes to public health efforts that acknowledges the engagement of religious and socio-cultural dimensions to disease outbreaks and interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3167b76e6624e15a27e9dcff1098ebb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3167b76e6624e15a27e9dcff1098ebb2025-08-20T03:28:22ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-04-01163e1e810.4102/jphia.v16i3.707843‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaThomas J. Ndaluka0Ambrose T. Kessy1Chima E. Onuekwe2Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es SalaamDirectorate of Research, Publications and Consultancy, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania; and Planning, Finance and Administration, Dar es SalaamDepartment of Immunizations, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), World Health Organization, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania; and Centre for Health and Allied Legal and Demographical Development, Research and Training (CHALADDRAT), World Health Organization, AwkaBackground: After the outbreak of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified vaccines as one of the intervention mechanisms capable of controlling and preventing COVID-19 infections. However, the uptake of the vaccine was below the expectation, while the cause for such manifestation was unclear. Aim: This study aimed to examine the attitude of Pentecostal believers towards COVID-19 vaccines in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The focus was to investigate the role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations. Setting: This study was conducted at three Pentecostal churches, namely Arise and Shine Ministry, Ufufuo na Uzima Ministry and Tanzania Assemblies of God – Makongo-juu, all located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: The study employed qualitative interviews to generate information from 55 Pentecostal believers. Results: Findings from this study attest that the attitude of Pentecostal believers towards COVID-19 vaccines was mixed; some hesitated to be vaccinated and another quarter accepted vaccination. Despite being provided free of charge, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine was attributed to the social-ecological factors that the individuals were in. Conclusion: Religion has remained a key factor for hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among believers. The best way to increase acceptance of COVID-19 among believers, is to have an appreciation of the socio-cultural and ecological environment where Individuals’ member resources are stored. Acceptance of COVID- 19 was not only related to scientific and medical factors, but rather religious issue as well. Contribution: It contributes to public health efforts that acknowledges the engagement of religious and socio-cultural dimensions to disease outbreaks and interventions.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/707covid-19 vaccinespentecostal believerscovid-19socio-ecological modelvaccine rejectionbelievers’ attitudetanzania |
| spellingShingle | Thomas J. Ndaluka Ambrose T. Kessy Chima E. Onuekwe ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Journal of Public Health in Africa covid-19 vaccines pentecostal believers covid-19 socio-ecological model vaccine rejection believers’ attitude tanzania |
| title | ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_full | ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_short | ‘In God We Trust’: The role of religion in COVID-19 vaccinations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_sort | in god we trust the role of religion in covid 19 vaccinations in dar es salaam tanzania |
| topic | covid-19 vaccines pentecostal believers covid-19 socio-ecological model vaccine rejection believers’ attitude tanzania |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/707 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thomasjndaluka ingodwetrusttheroleofreligionincovid19vaccinationsindaressalaamtanzania AT ambrosetkessy ingodwetrusttheroleofreligionincovid19vaccinationsindaressalaamtanzania AT chimaeonuekwe ingodwetrusttheroleofreligionincovid19vaccinationsindaressalaamtanzania |