ArticleBMC public health2022
Religion, politics and COVID-19 risk perception among urban residents in Malawi.
Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Systematic Review of the Methods Used in Rapid Approaches to Research and Evaluation.Evaluation review · 2025Pooled it
- Correlates and Narratives of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ghana: A case study.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- Dynamics of COVID-19 Risk Perception in Indonesia: A Consecutive Cross-sectional Study From 2020 to 2022.Safety and health at work · 2025Article
- Distribution ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Perceptions of COVID-19 and HIV Risk and Related Preventive Health Behaviors in Rural Zambia.Journal of prevention (2022) · 2025Article
- Exploring the perceptions and experiences of mobile teams on COVID-19 vaccine uptake at the community level: evidence from Benue and Niger states.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Surprising Gendered Age Differences in Rural Malawians' Early COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention Efforts.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024Article
- Palestinian university students' perspectives on COVID-19 risk and remote learning during the pandemic: A qualitative photovoice study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Public Risk Perception Attribution Model and Governance Path in COVID-19: A Perspective Based on Risk Information.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionMajority of Malawians have not yet adopted COVID-19 mitigation measures despite having knowledge about its infectivity, morbidity, and fatality. Understanding drivers of hesitancy to adoption of COVID-19 mitigation measures is critical as it can inform prevention programs. This study explores Malawians' COVID-19 risk perception, and the associated constraints in the adoption of mitigation efforts. A Health Belief Model (HBM) approach was used to understand perceived factors that undermine public health COVID-19 messages to reduce the spread of the pandemic in Malawi.
methodsThe study applied rapid appraisal and photovoice qualitative inquiry to comprehend risk perception regarding COVID-19. We purposively selected 52 participants from three major cities in Malawi. Audio and video interviews were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were coded manually to derive key themes and concepts.
resultsThe study identified that social factors particularly religious and political beliefs influenced COVID-19 risk perception. Specific religious beliefs pertaining to individuals recognizing signs of the 'Christian apocalypse' were particularly associated with lower risk perceptions. Politically, participants believed COVID-19 lockdown measures were a ploy by the then-ruling party to remain in power.
conclusionThe study suggests that religious beliefs and political environment undermine self -perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 among urban dwellers in Malawi. We recommend that diverse actors in Malawi should collaborate to promote the dissemination of accurate COVID-19 discourses and reduce the severity of the pandemic's impact in Malawi.
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