AccScience Publishing / IJPS / Volume 10 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.36922/ijps.357
Cite this article
27
Download
617
Views
Journal Browser
Volume | Year
Issue
Search
News and Announcements
View All
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Use of migration and mobility data in COVID-19 response: Evidence from the East Africa Community region

Mary Kalerwa Muyonga1*
Show Less
1 Population Studies and Research Institute, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
IJPS 2024, 10(1), 108–119; https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.357
Submitted: 19 September 2022 | Accepted: 1 December 2023 | Published: 28 December 2023
© 2023 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to unprecedented challenges to global health and mobility. A valuable lesson from this recent pandemic is that migration statistics can be relied on to illuminate the spread of an epidemic and model diffusion patterns once a highly contagious virus is detected in a country. This study reviews literature published between 2020 and 2021, giving insights into the generation and use of migration and mobility data in COVID-19 response in the East Africa Community (EAC). The reviewed studies regarding the EAC Regional COVID-19 Response Plan all point to the need for timely data, but do not specify requirements for mobility and migration statistics. Several studies featured in this review propounded innovative ways to obtain and use the data in COVID-19 modeling. The study concludes that there is potential for use of migration statistics in future pandemic response plans and recommends that the EAC mainstreams migration statistics within the pandemic response processes.

Keywords
COVID-19
Migration
Mobility
Data
East Africa Community
Africa
Funding
None.
References

Affara, M., Lagu, H.I., Achol, E., Karamagi, R., Omari, N., Ochido, G., et al. (2021). The East African Community (EAC) mobile laboratory networks in Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan-from project implementation to outbreak response against Dengue, Ebola, COVID-19, and epidemic-prone diseases. BMC Medicine, 19(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-02028-y

 

Africa CDC. (2021a). Responding to COVID-19 in Africa: Finding the Balance (Part IV) and Calls to Action. Ethiopia: Africa CDC.

 

Africa CDC. (2021b). Enhanced COVID-19 Surveillance at the Community Level in Africa. Ethiopia: Africa CDC.

 

African Union. (2020a). Africa Taskforce for Coronavirus (AFTCOR). Ethiopia: African Union.

 

African Union. (2020b). Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak. Ethiopia: African Union.

 

African Union. (2020c). Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing in Africa (PACT). Ethiopia: African Union.

 

African Union. (2020d). African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP). Ethiopia: African Union.

 

African Union. (2020e). Consortium for COVID-19 Clinical Vaccine Trials (CONCVACT). Ethiopia: African Union.

 

African Union. (2020f). Africa against COVID-19: Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods. Ethiopia: African Union.

 

Alamo, T., Reina, D.G., Gata, P.M., Preciado, V.M., & Giordano, G. (2021). Data-driven methods for present and future pandemics: Monitoring, modelling and managing. Annual Reviews in Control, 52:448-464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcontrol.2021.05.003

 

ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa, the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet). (2021). Unseen Eyes, Unheard Stories: Surveillance, Data Protection, and Freedom of Expression in Kenya and Uganda during COVID-19. Available from: https://www.article19.org/resources/unseen-eyes-unheard-stories-documentaries-on-the-experiences-of-surveillance-in-kenya-and-uganda/ [Last accessed on 2022 Feb 08].

 

Austrian, K., Pinchoff, J., Tidwell, J.B., White, C., Abuya, T., Kangwana, B., et al. (2020). COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes, practices and needs of households in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3576785

 

Balcan, D., Bruno, G., Hao, H., José J.R., Vittoria, C., & Alessandro, V. (2010). Modeling the spatial spread of infectious diseases: The GLobal Epidemic and Mobility computational model. Journal of Computational Science, 1(3):132-145. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jocs.2010.07.002

 

Benton, M., Batalova, J., Davidoff-Gore, S., & Schmidt, T. (2021). COVID-19 and the State of Global Mobility in 2020. Geneva: International Organization for Migration.

 

Botti, D., Phillips, M., Ochieng, E., Wambui, S., & Wachira, E. (2020). Urban Mixed Migration: Nairobi Case Study. Australia: Western Sydney University.

 

Braithwaite, I., Callender, T., Bullock, M., & Aldridge, R.W. (2020). Automated and partly automated contact tracing: A systematic review to inform the control of COVID-19. The Lancet Digital Health, 2(11):e607-e621. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(20)30184-9

 

Brand, S.P., Aziza, R., Kombe, I.K., Agoti, C.N., Hilton, J., Rock, K.S., et al. (2020). Forecasting the Scale of the COVID- 19 epidemic in Kenya. MedRxiv, p.2020-04. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.09.20059865

 

Brima, A.S. (2021). Burundi and COVID-19: Africa’s Representation in the International Media. Available from: https://africaportal.org/publication/burundi-and-covid-19- africas-representation-international-media/ [Last accessed on 2022 Feb 08].

 

De Bruin, Y.B., Lequarre, A.S., McCourt, J., Clevestig, P., Pigazzani, F., Jeddi, M.Z., et al. (2020). Initial impacts of global risk mitigation measures taken during the combatting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety Science, 128:104773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104773

 

Desai, A.N., Kraemer, M.U.G., Bhatia, S., Cori, A., Nouvellet, P., Herringer, M., et al. (2019). Real-time epidemic forecasting: challenges and opportunities. Health Security, 17(4):268-275. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2019.0022

 

East African Community (EAC). (2010). Common Market Protocol. Arusha, Tanzania: EAC.

 

East African Community (EAC). (2020a). East African Community COVID-19 Response Plan. Arusha, Tanzania: EAC.

 

East African Community (EAC). (2020b). Available from: https:// www.eac.int/press-releases/147-health/1845-eac-to-launch-regional-electronic-cargo-and-driver-tracking-system [Last accessed on 2022 Feb 08].

 

Fargues P., Cerrutti, M., & Awumbila, M. (2021). The Case for a World Migration Survey. Paris: International Union for the Scientific Study of Population.

 

Fortaleza, C.M.C.B., Guimarães, R.B., Catão, R.D.C., Ferreira, C.P., Berg de Almeida, G., Nogueira Vilches, T., et al. (2021). The use of health geography modeling to understand early dispersion of COVID-19 in São Paulo, Brazil. PLoS One, 16(1):e0245051. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245051

 

Gasser, U., Ienca, M., Scheibner, J., Sleigh, J., & Vayena, E. (2020). Digital tools against COVID-19: Taxonomy, ethical challenges, and navigation aid. The Lancet Digital Health, 2(8):e425-e434. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(20)30137-0

 

Gilbert, M., Pullano, G., Pinotti, F., Valdano, E., Poletto, C., Boëlle, P.Y., et al. (2020). Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: A modelling study. The Lancet, 395(10227):871-877. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30411-6

 

Habonimana, D., Ouedraogo, L., Ndirahisha, E., Misago, N., Ciza, R., Niyomwungere, D., et al. (2020). Understanding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-based mortality in Burundi: A cross-sectional study comparing two time periods. Epidemiology and Infection, 148:e280. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268820002770

 

Hoertel, N., Blachier, M., Blanco, C., Olfson, M., Massetti, M., Rico, M.S., et al. (2020). A stochastic agent-based model of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France. Nature Medicine, 26(9):1417-1421. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1001-6

 

Jordana, J., & Triviño-Salazar, J.C. (2020). Where are the ECDC and the EU-wide responses in the COVID-19 pandemic? The Lancet, 395(10237):1611-1612. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31132-6

 

Kakaī, C.G., Okunromade, O.F., Dan-Nwafor, C.C., Chabi, A.I.B., Martial, G.T.P., Dalhat, M.M., et al. (2020). Improving cross-border preparedness and response: Lessons learned from 3 Lassa fever outbreaks across Benin, Nigeria, and Togo, 2017- 2019. Health Security, 18(S1):S105-S112. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2019.0080

 

Karim, N., Jing, L., Lee, J.A., Kharel, R., Lubetkin, D., Clancy, C.M., et al. (2021). Lessons learned from Rwanda: Innovative strategies for prevention and containment of COVID-19. Annals of Global Health, 87(1):23. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3172

 

Macharia, P.M., Joseph, N.K., & Okiro, E.A. (2020). A vulnerability index for COVID-19: Spatial analysis at the subnational level in Kenya. BMJ Global Health, 5(8):e003014. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003014

 

Manirambona, E., Reddy, H., Uwiringiyimana, E., Uwizeyimana, T., Kamath, A., Parepalli, S.A., et al. (2021). Burundi’s “worst enemy”: The country’s fight against COVID-19. Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional (National Public Health Journal), 16:55-58. https://doi.org/10.21109/kesmas.v0i0.5029

 

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D.G. (2009). PRISMA 2009 flow diagram. The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6:e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100

 

Munir, A.B., Mohd Yasin, S.H., & Muhammad-Sukki, F. (2015). Big data: Big challenges to privacy and data protection. International Scholarly and Scientific Research and Innovation, 9(1): 355-366.

 

Mugenyi, L., Nsubuga. R.N., Wanyana, I., Muttamba. W., Tumwesigye. N.M., & Nsubuga, S.H. (2021). Feasibility of using a mobile App to monitor and report COVID-19 related symptoms and people’s movements in Uganda. PLoS One, 16(11):e0260269. https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260269

 

Musanabaganwa, C., Cubaka, V., Mpabuka, E., Semakula, M., Nahayo, E., Hedt-Gauthier, B.L., et al. (2021). One hundred thirty-three observed COVID-19 deaths in 10 months: Unpacking lower than predicted mortality in Rwanda. BMJ Global Health, 6(2):e004547. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004547

 

Muyonga, M., Odipo, G., & Agwanda, A.O. (2020). Interlinkages between migration and inequality in Africa: Review of contemporary studies. African Human Mobility Review, 6(1):26.

 

Muyonga, M., Otieno, A., & Odipo, G. (2021). Impact of subnational migration flows on population distribution in Kenya: Analysis using census data. African Human Mobility Review, 7(3):62-87.

 

Nachega, J.B., Atteh, R., Ihekweazu, C., Sam-Agudu, N.A., Adejumo, P., Nsanzimana, S., et al. (2021). Contact tracing and the COVID-19 response in Africa: Best practices, key challenges, and lessons learned from Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 104(4):1179. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0033

 

Nugent, P., & Soi, I. (2020). One-stop border posts in East Africa: State encounters of the fourth kind. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 14(3):433-454. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2020.1768468

 

Odero, M.O. (2020). One Stop Border Post as a Facilitator of Cross Border Mobility in East African Community (A Comparative study of Busia and Oloitokitok border posts) (Unpublished Thesis, University of Nairobi).

 

Ogbolosingha, A.J., & Singh, A. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: Review of impediments to public health measures in Sub- Saharan Africa. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6(3):68-75. https://doi.org/10.5455/ajpmph.20200512020014

 

Olum, R., & Bongomin, F. (2020). Uganda’s first 100 COVID-19 cases: Trends and lessons. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 96:517-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.073

 

Perez, L., & Dragicevic, S. (2009). An agent-based approach for modeling dynamics of contagious disease spread. International Journal of Health Geographics, 8(1):50. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003716

 

Pergolizzi, J.V., LeQuang, J.A., Taylor, R., Wollmuth, C., Nalamachu, M., Varrassi, G., et al. (2021). Four pandemics: Lessons learned; lessons lost. Signa Vitae, 17(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.22514/sv.2020.16.0096

 

Pinchoff, J., Kraus-Perrotta, C., Austrian, K., Tidwell, J.B., Abuya, T., Mwanga, D., et al. (2021). Mobility patterns during COVID-19 travel restrictions in Nairobi urban informal settlements: Who is leaving home and why. Journal of Urban Health, 98:211-221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00507-w

 

Pindolia, D.K., Garcia, A.J., Huang, Z., Fik, T., Smith, D.L., & Tatem, A.J. (2014). Quantifying cross-border movements and migrations for guiding the strategic planning of malaria control and elimination. Malaria Journal, 13(1):169. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-13-169

 

Quaife, M., Van Zandvoort, K., Gimma, A., Shah, K., McCreesh, N., Prem, K., et al. (2020). The impact of COVID- 19 control measures on social contacts and transmission in Kenyan informal settlements. BMC Medicine, 18(1):316. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01779-4

 

Republic of Kenya. (2020a). Ministry of Health. Executive Order No. 2 of 2020. Nairobi, Kenya: Republic of Kenya.

 

Republic of Kenya. (2020b). Ministry of Health. COVID-19 Protocols and Guidelines. Nairobi, Kenya: Republic of Kenya.

 

Republic of Kenya. (2020c). Ministry of Health. Jitenge System: Traveler’s QR Code. Nairobi, Kenya: Republic of Kenya.

 

Republic of Rwanda. (2020). Ministry of Health. Coronavirus Disease 2019, National Preparedness and Response Plan. Kampala, Uganda: Republic of Rwanda.

 

Republic of Uganda. (2020). Ministry of Health. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Preparedness and Response Plan. Kampala, Uganda: Republic of Rwanda.

 

Ruktanonchai, C.W., Lai, S., Utazi, C.E., Cunningham, A.D., Koper, P., Rogers, G.E., et al. (2021). Practical geospatial and sociodemographic predictors of human mobility. Scientific Reports, 11(1):15389. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94683-7

 

Sarki, A.M., Ezeh, A., & Stranges, S. (2020). Uganda as a role model for pandemic containment in Africa. American Journal of Public Health, 110(12):1800-1802. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2020.305948

 

Ssentongo, P., Fronterre, C., Geronimo, A., Greybush, S.J., Mbabazi, P.K., Muvawala, J., et al. (2021). Pan-African evolution of within-and between-country COVID-19 dynamics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(28):e2026664118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2026664118

 

Sulyok, M., & Walker, M. (2020). Community movement and COVID-19: A global study using google’s community mobility reports. Epidemiology and Infection, 148:e284. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268820002757

 

Tarimo, C.S., & Wu, J. (2020). The first confirmed case of COVID- 19 in Tanzania: Recommendations based on lesson learned from China. Tropical Medicine and Health, 48(1):25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-020-00214-x

 

Tomitsch, M., Sturm, F., Konzett, M., Bolin, A., Wagner, I., & Grechenig, T. (2010). December. Stories from the field: Mobile Phone Usage and its Impact on People’s Lives in East Africa. In Proceedings of the 4th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, p.1-5.

 

United Nations (UN). (2018). Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: Final Draft. United States: United Nations.

 

Venkatramanan, S., Lewis, B., Chen, J., Higdon, D., Vullikanti, A., & Marathe, M. (2018). Using data-driven agent-based models for forecasting emerging infectious diseases. Epidemics, 22:43-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epidem.2017.02.010

 

Wangari, E.N., Gichuki, P., Abuor, A.A., Wambui, J., Okeyo, S.O., Oyatsi, H.T., et al. (2021). Kenya’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A balance between minimising morbidity and adverse economic impact. AAS Open Research, 4:3. https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13156.2

 

Wesolowski, A., Eagle, N., Noor, A.M., Snow, R.W., & Buckee, C.O. (2012). Heterogeneous mobile phone ownership and usage patterns in Kenya. PLoS One, 7(4):e35319. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035319

 

World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/ AFRO). (2021). Coordinating Action: Lessons from Early COVID-19 Responses in Five African Countries. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa.

 

Zhao, Z., Li, X., Liu, F., Zhu, G., Ma, C., & Wang, L. (2020). Prediction of the COVID-19 spread in African countries and implications for prevention and control: A case study in South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya. Science of the Total Environment, 729:138959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138959

Conflict of interest
The author declares that they have no competing interests.
Share
Back to top
International Journal of Population Studies, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8606 Print ISSN: 2424-8150, Published by AccScience Publishing