Mother Earth, Pandemics, and Women's Reproductive Health in African Apostolic Indigenous Churches in Nyanga, Zimbabwe

Using the context of the two pandemics, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, this article explores how the African Apostolic Indigenous churches (AAICs) of Nyanga in Zimbabwe responded to these pandemics, particularly regarding women's sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It is informed by findings from a qualitative research design in which in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were employed to gain insights from purposively sampled participants in the three AAICs of Nyanga. The article shows that the AAICs' stances on women's SRHR during these pandemics were characterized by forbidding women from accessing modern biomedicines and healthcare services, which has significantly endangered these women's health, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. The churches encouraged a reliance on spiritual healing, preventing women from accessing necessary medical treatments such as anti-retroviral drugs for HIV and vaccinations for COVID-19. The article argues that addressing the challenges faced by women in the AAICs concerning their SRHR during the pandemic requires a multifaceted approach for empowering women, promoting stakeholder dialogue, and integrating respectful, culturally sensitive healthcare services that acknowledge women's critical role as 'Mother Earth'. The article also calls for a shift in decision-making power within the churches to protect women's health during any pandemic better. SIGNIFICANCE: Beyond the scholarly contribution, the article contributes to improving health outcomes for women in AAICs during a global health crisis and equips religious leaders with the benefits of integrating modern medicines with spiritual care for the betterment of women's sexual and reproductive health rights. Keywords: Pandemics, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), African Apostolic Indigenous churches (AAICs), COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, Zimbabwe, Mother Earth