Apostolic faith church organization contexts for health and wellbeing in women and children

Abstract

Objective. The study explored contexts for health and wellbeing for women and children influenced by the structural behavior of an Apostolic faith church organization in Zimbabwe.

Methods. Twenty-three purposively selected members of an African indigenous Apostolic church (males = 12; females = 11; age range 22–95 years) were informants to a focus group discussion session. They provided data on the institutional behaviors that were culturally-historically embedded in the organization's activities. Data were analyzed thematically and using cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) to foreground essential themes.

Results. The church organization provided social capital to support health and wellbeing in members. However, the culturally embedded practices to minimize decision making by women and child members potentially compromised their health and wellbeing.

Conclusion. The findings suggest that the structural activities of the church for health and wellbeing could also have the paradoxical effect of exposing women and children to health risks from obligatory roles.

Keywords:

• Apostolic faith
• structural behavior
• health and wellbeing
• women and children

Notes

1. The Apostolic sect members consider churches that presumably underemphasize leadership by the Holy Spirit to have a predominantly secular orientation; hence the reference to such churches as secular churches or churches of the flesh.