Page 90 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Therapeutic resilience during COVID-19

health measures (e.g., physical distancing and hygiene researcher thoroughly reviewed the transcriptions to
practices) and established communal and religious validate the identified themes and descriptors, ensuring
traditions in Faisalabad (Adebiyi et al., 2022). In this this study’s reliability, dependability, and confirmability.
regard, cultural resilience signified active adaptation, rather There are also several limitations in this study that
than a passive response, as communities reinterpreted should be noted. First, due to the use of a convenient
their practices to effectively deal with the emerging health sample approach, this study only provided a glimpse into
challenges. the perspectives of cultural healing within one particular

This study also emphasized the importance of further city. Thus, the findings are not generalizable to the total
investigations into regional perceptions of illness and population of Pakistan. Second, no statistical analysis
healthcare-seeking behaviors. In this case, the pandemic was performed to investigate the correlations between
presented opportunities to advance innovative health the components or to offer a comprehensive statistical
programs and treatments through the use of qualitative explanation of the findings. Third, this study employed a
data (Baskin & Bartlett, 2021). However, the rapid progress qualitative approach, utilizing interviews as the primary
in such treatments required careful attention to prevent the method to collect the participants’ viewpoints on
spread of misinformation, especially regarding unverified COVID-19. Finally, the participants’ opinions were purely
remedies promoted on social media platforms. For example, self-reported, with no verification of their accuracy. In this
various plant-based solutions were identified as deficient in regard, it is important to recognize that the potential for
empirical evidence. This provided a false sense of security selection bias cannot be entirely eradicated, even in cases
and led to the neglect of critical preventive measures, such where participation is voluntary.
as physical distancing and hygiene practices, ultimately
increasing the transmission of the virus (Brazzaville, 2020). 4.2. Policy implications
This study suggests that the healthcare sector in Pakistan
Finally, this study highlighted the impact of social
relationships on healthcare-seeking behaviors, with lacked the necessary resources to meet the needs of
healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This
cultural therapeutics receiving social endorsements
(Carruth, 2014; Hampshire et al., 2017). In addition to research-based information is important for forecasting
public health interventions, various practices, such as and dealing with future pandemics. It is also important to
handwashing, prayer, and traditional remedies, played establish communication strategies within the system to
enable efficient communication between health managers
a significant role in alleviating despair and fostering a and service providers in all hierarchical levels. This can
sense of hope. In this regard, previous research has shown enable the authorities to better analyze the dissemination
that individuals with chronic illnesses, such as AIDS and
cancer, remained optimistic through faith-based practices of information, allay people’s worries and fears, and boost
the morale of healthcare professionals.
and standard treatments (Zarzycka et al., 2019). Similarly,
the pandemic highlighted the importance of religion on 5. Conclusions
individual behaviors and social interactions, providing
emotional support (Dein et al., 2020). However, future This ethnographic study conducted in Faisalabad during
research should investigate the therapeutic benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the notable influence
traditional treatments and prayer, as cultural components of cultural resilience in dealing with this public health
in the management of emerging diseases. crisis. Given the limitations of the healthcare infrastructure,
many individuals heavily relied on traditional healing
4.1. Rigor and limitations of the study practices, religious beliefs, and communal support systems
Rigor is widely regarded as the most appropriate standard to address the physical and psychological impacts of the
for evaluating qualitative research. In this case, rigorous virus. The established cultural frameworks significantly
research must satisfy four requirements to be credible: contributed to their survival strategies, providing a
reliability, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. supportive response during times when formal healthcare
Credibility was achieved in this study by prolonged systems encountered significant challenges. Our findings
engagement and meticulous observations to comprehend are also in line with previous research on the importance of
the context of the phenomena in which it was situated and integrating cultural resilience into public health strategies,
minimize the potential for data distortions. Transferability particularly in resource-constrained regions (Rahman &
was enhanced by utilizing purposive sampling and Janjua, 2021; Agyeman, 2020).
providing a comprehensive and precise description of This study also indicates the necessity of exercising
the participants. In addition, an experienced qualitative caution regarding misinformation, especially regarding

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 84 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4109