Page 116 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Migration and mobility data in COVID-19 response

Portal, the African Union (AU), the EAC, and the the available literature on how migration and mobility
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). data were generated and utilized in the mitigation and
This approach enabled the reconstruction of the COVID- management of COVID-19 in the EAC region, especially
19 response framework in the EAC region, which has in every member state. The sampled studies show regional
important implications for data requirements for the variations, with Kenya reporting more published studies
response efforts. In this paper, COVID-19 management on COVID-19 compared to the other countries in the
refers to a range of measures undertaken by the respective EAC region. Of the five Kenyan studies cited in this paper,
governments to track down COVID-19 victims, trace their two were based on research conducted in urban informal
contacts, and address other issues related to identification settlements to monitor the effects of COVID-19 protocols,
of persons with COVID-19. This review focuses on studies using telephone-based interviews conducted amongst
that tracked usage of migration and mobility data to not residents of those areas; two studies focused on predictive
only manage COVID-19 but also forecast or model the modeling of COVID-19 in the country; while the remaining
internal diffusion of the virus. study used geospatial indicators to predict the social,
environmental, and socioepidemiological vulnerabilities in
The keywords used in literature search include the sub national units, which could inform the COVID-19
“migration data,” “migration statistics,” “mobility pandemic response. There is only one relevant study from
data,” “mobility statistics,” “COVID-19”, “East African Burundi that provides a summary of the COVID-19
Community,” “EAC,” and the respective name of each measures adopted in the country. For Uganda, three
EAC member state. The keywords were used to search for studies were found relevant, with one focusing on ways
literature on the Internet. The abstracts, keywords, and to track COVID-19 spread in the country while the other
methodology described in the selected studies after online two evaluating the trends of the pandemic in the country
search were rigorously reviewed, with particular emphasis and the lessons learned. In Rwanda, only one study was
on the availability and use of data and the limitations relevant, depicting the management of COVID-19 in the
surrounding these aspects. The study selection process is country and the lessons learned. No relevant studies from
outlined in Figure 1. Tanzania were found during the specified period. Several
The methodology sections of the selected papers were continental and regional studies, which included some of
examined to evaluate the relevance of the manuscripts the EAC member states, were included in this systematic
to the study objectives. Manuscripts that fulfilled the review. The main themes of these continental and regional
inclusion criteria were read, and the references cited in the studies revolve around COVID-19 preparedness and
selected manuscripts were screened through to identify vulnerabilities of the different countries as well as the
other possible relevant manuscripts for inclusion in this effectiveness of interventions.
systematic review. Adherence to the above-mentioned
procedures helped preliminarily identify a total of 50 studies 3. Results
conducted in the EAC region, concerning the keywords 3.1. COVID-19 response architecture in the EAC region
“migration,” “mobility,” and “COVID-19.” The first-level
screening involves the identification of duplicate articles The EAC regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic
was based on the continental response plan, which was
by reviewing the titles and abstracts, and 17 articles were guided by the African Union Commission (AU) in
excluded from the preliminary set of studies. Thereafter, partnership with the African Centers for Disease Control
the remaining 33 articles were reviewed through full-text (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization Regional
reading, and 15 articles were found to be ineligible as Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), who formed the Africa
some of them focused on Africa as a region, while others Taskforce for Coronavirus (AFTCOR) in February 2020
featured epidemiological aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 (Africa Union, 2020a). Comprising representatives of the
virus, without reference to migration or mobility issues. AU and members of the national public health institutions
Studies on the impact of COVID-19 on health, economics, of the member states, the Africa Taskforce launched the
and related subjects were omitted in this analysis, unless Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak in
they specifically focused on mobility or migration data 2020 following consultations of the Africa Taskforce
or statistics. After a thorough and careful article selection (African Union, 2020b). The continental strategy had
and multi-stage screening, a total of 18 studies were found twin objectives: (i) To coordinate member states in their
relevant to the objectives of the systematic review and were, response; and (ii) to promote evidence-based public
therefore, included in the qualitative analysis (Table 1). health practice for surveillance, prevention, diagnosis,
The final 18 studies that met the criteria for the treatment, and control of COVID-19 (African Union,
review were, further, analyzed to draw insights from 2020b:6). Collecting data for the purpose of managing

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 110 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.357