The Role of Religion in the Perception of Disasters.: A Case Study of Cyclone IDAI Disaster at Chipinge District Hospital in 2019

Abstract

The study examined the role of religion in the perception of disasters. It focused on the influnce of religion and religious beliefs on disaster mitigation preparedness, response and recovery at Chipinge District Hospital during and after Cyclone Idai disaster. It explored the perceptions on Cyclone Idai disaster. Quantitative data was gathered using a questionnaire and qualitative data was gathered using key informant interviews. A sample of 30 participants was taken from the target population of 150. The Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) and Excel were used for quantitative data analysis. The study showed that Cyclone Idai was viewed by some as: a natural occurance, as some effect of climate change, as a result of stanic forces of darkness and as God’s anger caused by some evil activities done by some people in the affected area. A key informant pointed out that, some workmets believed that Cyclone Idai and Covid 19 disasters were caused by evil forces of darkness. The study revealed that, most of the hospital staff were affiliated to some religious group. It was also found out that, religion and religious groups played an important role in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. However, the involvement of religious groups in community disaster management during and after Cyclone Idai disaster, despite being significant, was not highly organised and structured. The respondents and members of their religious groups offered counselling services but some of them did not have the technical skills. They also provided food, clothing and shelter to Cyclone Idai victims. Hospital staff had a dual role of offering medical services during Cyclone Idai disaster and also offering non-medical support through their different religious groups.The study showed that there was great potential to make use of religious groups and gatherings as platforms through which community disaster management activities could be launched. Therefore, it was recommended that, the hospital could take advantage of connecting with religious groups and their leaders by making use of the hospital staff members who are members of such religious groups. The hospital could then easily pass on information on disaster preparedness to religious groups through their staff members. Further, the hospital could develop more formal relationships and networks with religious groups to facilitate future disaster management activities. It was concluded that, more research could be done on other disasters not covered by this study such as the Covid 19 pandemic, where the disaster mitigation, preparedness and response included vaccination which was despised and rejected by some religious leaders. Some religious leaders ended up wrongly influencing even some healthcare professionals, who in turn decampaigned the vaccinantion . Therefore, more research may be needed.