Religious Perceptions About COVID-19 Among Predominantly Young Online Respondents from Selected Latin American Countries.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the factors associated with religious perceptions about COVID-19 among predominantly young online respondents from selected Latin American countries. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study using data from a multicountry survey conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. Participants were adults aged 18 years or older recruited through an online, non-probability convenience sampling strategy. Religious perceptions about COVID-19 were assessed with a six-item Likert-type scale exploring beliefs about divine influence on the pandemic, illness, and healing. High religious perception scores were defined as scores in the upper tertile of the summed scale, indicating stronger endorsement of religious interpretations of COVID-19, illness, and healing. This outcome did not directly measure negative attitudes toward medical treatment, treatment refusal, treatment adherence, adherence to preventive measures, or healthcare-seeking behavior. A total of 2317 respondents were analyzed. A conventional response rate could not be calculated because the survey was disseminated through open online academic and student networks, and the numbers of individuals reached and those who declined participation were unavailable. The statement with the highest agreement was "When I have a health problem, I pray for God's will to be done" (13% strongly agreed and 24% agreed). In multivariable analysis, a higher prevalence of high religious perception scores was associated with Christian affiliation (aPR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.15-2.62) and Evangelical affiliation (aPR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.31-3.00). A lower prevalence was observed among agnostic respondents, atheist respondents, and respondents from Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama. These findings suggest that religious interpretations of illness were endorsed by a substantial proportion of this online convenience sample during the pandemic. The findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating and may inform future research on culturally sensitive communication and care strategies in Latin American settings.