The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Pandemic Response: A Systematic Review of Their Contributions to Health Care During Recent Pandemics in Africa

Abstract Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) have long been central to healthcare delivery in Africa, particularly during public health crises when formal systems are overwhelmed or distrusted. This systematic review investigates the role of FBOs in pandemic response across the African continent, focusing on recent outbreaks including Ebola, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and Marburg. Drawing from peer-reviewed literature, this study aimed to examines how FBOs have contributed to healthcare delivery during the recent pandemics in Africa. Through the integration of religious beliefs with medical guidelines, and navigate complex public health landscapes, FBOs are seen to serve as trusted intermediaries between communities and state health systems, offering not only physical care but also psychosocial support, health care, as well as vaccine advocacy during the recent pandemics in Africa. Through the lens of Beattie’s Model of Health Promotion, this review examines how the work done by FBOs is perceived during pandemics while also categorizing FBO interventions as both top-down and bottom-up, spanning authoritative health education to community-led health advocacy. Additionally, this theoretical framework illustrates how adherence to pandemic protocols alongside religious values. Findings indicate that while FBOs often bridge crucial gaps in care, they also face challenges, including misinformation, logistical constraints, and occasional conflicts between religious beliefs and scientific guidelines which need to be addressed for the due to the crucial roles normally played by FBOs in society. Evidenced by their influence in society, FBOs are essential social structures that highly contribute to health equity and resilience especially in areas where religion is a crucial aspect of people’s lives. The study thus concludes with recommendations for policy, practice and research while emphasizing better integration of FBOs into national pandemic preparedness and future response strategies, increased capacity building and funding for their sustainability, as well as further research on their role that’s still limited in some parts of Africa.