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The Relationship between Religious Beliefs and Attitudes towards Public Health Infection Prevention Measures among an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Bruria Adini

    (Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel)

  • Yoel Cohen

    (Moskowitz School of Communication, Ariel University, Ariel 4077625, Israel)

  • Ahuva Spitz

    (School of Nursing, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 91160, Israel)

Abstract

The ultra-Orthodox population in Israel was heavily impacted by COVID-19; it is important to understand the factors that contributed to this. There may be a friction between religious versus governmental guidelines that may reduce adherence to COVID mitigation guidelines, such as social distancing and masking. The purpose of this study is to explore this tension and the extent to which it existed in the surveyed sample. The study identified attitudes of ultra-Orthodox individuals concerning religious and public health measures to mitigate COVID-19 infection. A closed-ended questionnaire was completed by 405 ultra-Orthodox Jews. Most respondents believe that religious learning protects from harm (91%); 74% believe that periodically there are inconsistencies between religious guidelines and medical guidelines; 59% believe that preventive medicine may clash with “Divine protection”. Some public health measures applied to contain the pandemic threaten religious lifestyle; this is a source of dissonance among ultra-religious populations, which may substantially decrease willingness to comply with public health measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruria Adini & Yoel Cohen & Ahuva Spitz, 2022. "The Relationship between Religious Beliefs and Attitudes towards Public Health Infection Prevention Measures among an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2988-:d:763832
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shaul Kimhi & Yohanan Eshel & Hadas Marciano & Bruria Adini, 2020. "Distress and Resilience in the Days of COVID-19: Comparing Two Ethnicities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    2. Faiga Weiden & Michal Levinsky & Miriam Schiff & Nati Becker & Ruth Pat-Horenczyk & Rami Benbenishty, 2021. "COVID-Related Concerns, the Need for Help, and Perceived Microaggression among Young Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Respondents in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Tehila Kalagy & Sarah Abu-Kaf & Orna Braun-Lewensohn, 2021. "Effective Ways to Encourage Health-Care Practices among Cultural Minorities in Israel during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Tomer Mevorach & Jonathan Cohen & Alan Apter, 2021. "Keep Calm and Stay Safe: The Relationship between Anxiety and Other Psychological Factors, Media Exposure and Compliance with COVID-19 Regulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Milka Donchin & Lia Gurewitz & Sima Lissa Wetzler, 2023. "Implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among the Member Cities of the “Healthy Cities Network” in Israel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.

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