COVID-19: 53% of Moroccans Believe Prayer is More Effective Than Vaccines

Doha – A new Afrobarometer study reveals that 53% of Moroccans believe prayer is more effective than vaccines in preventing COVID-19, placing Morocco in the middle range among 15 African countries surveyed regarding faith-based approaches to the pandemic.

The research paper, authored by Daniel Tuki from the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and published on Tuesday, analyzed data from approximately 19,000 respondents across 15 African nations to examine how education and news consumption influence beliefs about prayer versus vaccination for COVID-19 prevention.

The study found significant variation across countries, with Sudan showing the highest preference for prayer at 89%, followed by Niger (88%) and Liberia (87%). In contrast, Togo and Mauritius reported the lowest rates at 41% each, with Morocco’s 53% indicating a moderate position compared to the survey average of 61%.

“Regression results show that education reduces individuals’ likelihood of believing that prayer is more effective than a vaccine in preventing the disease,” writes Tuki, explaining that educated individuals tend to place more trust in evidence-based science than supernatural beliefs.

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The research also demonstrated that increased news consumption, whether through traditional media (television, radio, newspapers) or digital platforms (internet, social media), correlates with lower likelihood of preferring prayer over vaccination. According to the study, this may be attributed to news coverage emphasizing disease severity and promoting vaccination benefits during the pandemic.

Religious affiliation emerged as a significant factor, with Christians and Muslims showing higher likelihood of favoring prayer compared to non-religious individuals. However, practitioners of traditional/ethnic religions demonstrated lower likelihood of preferring prayer over vaccines.

The study revealed other notable correlations: individuals who previously contracted COVID-19 showed less inclination to favor prayer over vaccines, while those experiencing economic deprivation demonstrated stronger preference for prayer-based prevention.

Among the total respondents across all 15 countries, 61% believed prayer was more effective than vaccines, 23% considered vaccines more effective than prayer, and 16% viewed both as equally effective in preventing COVID-19.

The research utilized data collected between October 2020 and July 2021, encompassing responses from Benin, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This comprehensive study represents one of the largest cross-country analyses of attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention in Africa, offering insights into how educational attainment and media exposure influence public health beliefs in the region.