A phenomenological study into the role of spirituality and religiousness in the mental health of people with cancer in Zimbabwe

This study examines the role of spirituality in illness management and mental health of selected people with cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study inspects religiosity and spiritual elements among people with cancer. Narratives of women and men with cancer situated on different body sites was gathered using qualitative methodology. Data is analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results indicate the central role of spiritual well-being and spirituality among people with cancer. Crucially, owing to scarcity and low uptake of institutionalized services, churches become essential conduits to cater for the spiritual well-being of people with cancer in resource constrained settings like Zimbabwe.