Faith and Science in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Understanding The Intersection of Religion and Attitudes towards Vaccination

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study explores the intersection of faith and science in shaping attitudes towards vaccination among residents of Ebonyi State. This study adopted a mixed-method research design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The theoretical underpinning of this research is Serge Moscovici's Social Representations Theory. The population of the study comprised Nigerian citizens residing in Abakaliki urban, Ebonyi State, A stratified purposive sampling technique was employed. A total of 150 survey respondents were selected (50 from each religious group), alongside 15 in-depth interviewees (five per religious group), comprising religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and laypersons. A structured questionnaire was administered to 150 respondents. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 key informants to gain deeper insights into the cognitive and cultural narratives shaping vaccine attitudes. A coding schema was developed to analyse the tone, themes, and actors in the media texts. To ensure validity, the survey instruments and interview questions were reviewed by experts in public health, religious studies, and sociology. The pilot testing of the questionnaire was conducted on 20 respondents not included in the main study, which helped to identify and rectify issues of clarity and interpretability. Reliability was ensured through internal consistency checks. The Cronbach’s alpha for the attitude scale items was 0.82, indicating high reliability. Survey data were entered into SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 26. Interview transcripts were coded thematically using NVivo 12. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach: familiarisation, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining themes, and writing up (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Findings from the study revealed that religious beliefs and values significantly influence attitudes towards vaccination, with some participants citing divine protection and others expressing concerns about vaccine safety. Based on the findings the study recommended increased engagement with religious leaders, improved vaccine education, and culturally sensitive public health messaging. The study concluded with an affirmation that understanding the complex interplay between faith and science is crucial for developing effective vaccination strategies in Ebonyi State and similar contexts.

Key Words: Vaccination, Religion, Faith, Science, Public Health.