Healing through faith: spirituality and shrine visitation as coping mechanisms among haemophilia patients in Kashmir-an interpretative phenomenological study.

Abstract

Background: In Kashmir, Sufi traditions are integral to everyday life. Visits to shrines are a culturally significant expression of faith and may influence how individuals cope with lifelong health conditions such as haemophilia.

Objective: This study sought to explore the experiences of adults living with haemophilia in Kashmir with spirituality and shrine visitation as coping methods to deal with the psychological, emotional and social challenges of their condition.

Methods: A qualitative study using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was conducted at the Haemophilia day care centre, Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Twelve adults (aged ≥18 years) diagnosed with Haemophilia A or Haemophilia B were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analysed following the principles of IPA.

Results: Analysis revealed one overarching theme, visiting shrines as a spiritual coping mechanism, comprising three interconnected subthemes: (1) changing patterns of shrine visitation across the life course, (2) belief in God and living with haemophilia, and (3) haemophilia as God's will. Participants reported visiting shrines as a source of hope, emotional comfort, inner peace, resilience and spiritual connection. Participants recognized the importance of biomedical treatment but also saw shrine visitation as a complementary coping strategy of meaning, strengthening faith and facilitating acceptance of their illness. Participants also found that religious beliefs allowed them to reinterpret suffering through trust in God, which contributed to their psychological resilience when viewed as a lifelong condition.

Conclusion: Spirituality and shrine visits are important culturally embedded coping mechanisms for people living with haemophilia in Kashmir. These practices are not a substitute for medical treatment but are a complement to conventional healthcare in addressing the emotional, existential and psychosocial needs of patients. Integrating culturally sensitive spiritual care into haemophilia services may contribute to more holistic, person-centred care.