Janice R. Andrews
An Afrobarometer survey reveals significant differences in how African nations approach COVID-19 prevention, with religious beliefs playing a substantial role in public health attitudes. In Morocco, 53% of respondents indicated greater confidence in prayer than vaccination for preventing COVID-19.
This sentiment appears even stronger in other African nations: Sudan leads with 90% of its population favoring prayer, while Niger and Liberia show similar preferences at 88% and 87% respectively. In contrast, Mauritius and Togo demonstrated lower religious reliance, with 41% of their populations prioritizing prayer over vaccination.
The research identified several key factors influencing these attitudes:
- Educational background: Higher education levels corresponded with greater vaccine acceptance
- Economic status: Lower-income communities showed stronger preference for spiritual interventions
- Media exposure: Greater news consumption correlated with increased vaccine trust
- Government trust: Those confident in their leadership were more likely to follow official health guidelines
- Gender dynamics: Women showed higher likelihood than men to favor prayer-based prevention
- Personal experience: Direct exposure to COVID-19 cases typically led to stronger support for medical interventions
These findings highlight how socioeconomic factors, education, and religious beliefs intersect to shape public health responses across the African continent, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
