Which Saint to pray for fighting against a Covid infection? A short survey

A Perciaccante; A Coralli; P Charlier

doi:10.1016/j.jemep.2021.100674

Which Saint to pray for fighting against a Covid infection? A short survey

Ethics Med Public Health. 2021 Sep:18:100674. doi: 10.1016/j.jemep.2021.100674. Epub 2021 May 1.

Authors

A Perciaccante^{1

2}, A Coralli³, P Charlier¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory Anthropology Archaeology Biology (LAAB), Paris-Saclay University (UVSQ), UFR of Health Sciences, 2, avenue de la source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France.
² Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Department of Medicine, "San Giovanni di Dio" Hospital, Gorizia, Italy.
³ Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Alto Isontino District, Gorizia, Italy.

Abstract

Background: In the absence of a treatment still considered universally effective, and of a vaccine validated by the health authorities, we wanted to know which Catholic saint the European Christian community turned to in the event of infection with Covid-19 to request a miraculous healing.

Methodology: An online survey was carried out on a sample of 1158 adults using social media tools.

Results: All results are presented in this research, with a few saints in the majority, and some dictated by the symptomatology of the Covid-19 infection or the personalities of certain « doctor guru ».

Conclusion: This medico-anthropological study is revealing the psychology of Western patients vis-à-vis the magic-religious means used in the fight against diseases, particularly in the epidemic/pandemic context.

Keywords: Health; Medical anthropology; Parallel medicine; Religion; Survey.