The Impact of COVID-19 and Religious Restrictions on the Well-Being of Ghanaian Christians: The Perspectives of Religious Leaders

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ghana government instituted a ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings. To understand how the unanticipated restrictions and interruption in normal church routines affected the well-being of congregants in Ghana, we interviewed 14 religious l...

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Published inJournal of religion and health Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 2232 - 2249
Main Authors Osei-Tutu, Annabella, Affram, Adjeiwa Akosua, Mensah-Sarbah, Christopher, Dzokoto, Vivian A., Adams, Glenn
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.08.2021
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Aging
Clinical Psychology
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Paper
Public Health
Religion
Religious Studies
Ghana
COVID-19
Religious gatherings
Religious restrictions
Pandemic
Well-being
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Summary:In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ghana government instituted a ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings. To understand how the unanticipated restrictions and interruption in normal church routines affected the well-being of congregants in Ghana, we interviewed 14 religious leaders. Thematic analysis revealed psychospiritual impacts including decline in spiritual life, loss of fellowship and community, financial difficulties, challenges with childcare, as well as fear of infection. Religious leaders intervened by delivering sermons on hope, faith, and repentance. Some religious leaders sensitized their members on health hygiene and COVID-19-related stigma. The study sheds light on the perceived impacts of COVID-19 and restrictions of religious gatherings on congregants in Ghana.
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ISSN:0022-4197
1573-6571
DOI:10.1007/s10943-021-01285-8