A Study of Sociocultural Adaptation for Practices of Religious Doctrines during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Using the Religious Dimension to Prevent and Mitigate the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a study on the effects of sociocultural adaptation on religious practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and the utilization of the religious dimension to prevent and mitigate the spread of the virus. The results stem from a mixed-methods research approach involving quantitative and qualitative data collection from 15,505 participants through questionnaires. Statistical analysis comprises numerical summaries such as counts, percentages, means, standard deviations, and qualitative content analysis. Data presentation employed descriptive analytics. Findings revealed: 1) Among Thai followers, a high adherence to religious practices was observed (94.62%). Brahmanism-Hinduism adherents demonstrated the highest adherence (100.00%), followed by Sikhs (94.60%), Muslims (93.60%), Buddhists (92.50%), and Christians (92.43%). 2) Sociocultural adaptation for religious practices during the pandemic aligned with public health guidelines, emphasizing social distancing, mask-wearing, and frequent hand sanitization. 3) Clear directives were established for utilizing religious practices to combat COVID-19, ensuring conformity with the Ministry of Public Health protocols for all religious ceremonies, both auspicious and inauspicious. Additionally, education played a vital role in disseminating these guidelines effectively to religious communities, fostering greater compliance and understanding.