The Impact of Arbaeen Long-Walk on the Health of Pilgrims: A Qualitative Study

The Arbaeen long walk (ALW) is an annual religious pilgrimage in which over 20 million Muslims walk more than 80 km between Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. While this event may affect participants' health, its impact has not been comprehensively studied. This study aimed to explore the perceived effects of the Arbaeen walk on individuals' health across multiple dimensions.

In this qualitative study, 19 university students who participated in ALW were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. Content analysis was applied to the interview data using MAXQDA 2018. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) to ensure methodological rigor.

A total of 264 initial codes were identified, which were consolidated into 78 unique codes, including 52 positive and 24 negative outcomes. These groups comprised 78 unique codes, with 52 codes representing positive outcomes of the Arbaeen walk and 24 codes representing negative outcomes. Based on frequency, the most significant positive outcomes of the Arbaeen walk were "Peace of mind and heart," "Cultural exchange with other countries," and "Strengthening the relationship between God and individuals." In terms of negative outcomes, the code frequency highlighted the prevalence of "Outbreak of infectious diseases," "Physical fatigue," and "Excessive waste generation."

Participation in the Arbaeen walk is associated with diverse positive effects on physical, mental, and social well-being, although some negative health outcomes were also reported. These findings highlight the broad scope of health impacts related to this pilgrimage and underscore the need for further investigation into its effects.