Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations
Abstract Introduction “Migrant pandemic precarity” describes the specific consequences and vulnerabilities experienced by migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their precarity, migrants adopted some resilient behaviors. Utilizing the resilience theory, our study explored how migrants in Sou...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Archives of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01573-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849238096805101568 |
|---|---|
| author | Ferdinand C. Mukumbang Babatope O. Adebiyi |
| author_facet | Ferdinand C. Mukumbang Babatope O. Adebiyi |
| author_sort | Ferdinand C. Mukumbang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction “Migrant pandemic precarity” describes the specific consequences and vulnerabilities experienced by migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their precarity, migrants adopted some resilient behaviors. Utilizing the resilience theory, our study explored how migrants in South Africa managed to cope with heightened vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these resilient behaviors can provide insights into addressing the health inequities experience by this population. Methods We conducted an interpretive phenomenological analysis study to understand the key challenges of migrant populations in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2022) and how resourceful they became in overcoming these challenges. Using a purposive sampling approach, we conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with migrants from other African countries, including asylum seekers, refugees, permit holders, and undocumented migrants in two South African provinces. Results Three interconnected aspects of migrant pandemic precarity were revealed: financial insecurities, food insecurities, and health concerns. Social connectedness and resource provision ensured inclusivity and supported these migrant populations in navigating the difficulties posed by migrant pandemic precarity. Conclusions The South African government should implement migrant-inclusive approaches and empower structures and programs that enhance migrants’ resilience to future crises. We argued that to reduce health inequities among migrant populations in South Africa, these resilience approaches can be harnessed in three ways. (1) the South African government should create mechanisms and processes to identify and integrate migrants with critical skills into their workforce. (2) enhancing collaborations between civil society organizations, local governments, and international organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration, to address food insecurities among the migrant population. (3) enforcing their constitutional mandate to provide free basic health care services to all migrants in South Africa by removing barriers such as health care provider attitudes toward migrants’ access to health care services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-792f19b05d2d4966877771e567bc2dc9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2049-3258 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-792f19b05d2d4966877771e567bc2dc92025-08-20T04:01:46ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582025-04-0183111410.1186/s13690-025-01573-9Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populationsFerdinand C. Mukumbang0Babatope O. Adebiyi1Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University of WashingtonCentre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society, University of the Western CapeAbstract Introduction “Migrant pandemic precarity” describes the specific consequences and vulnerabilities experienced by migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their precarity, migrants adopted some resilient behaviors. Utilizing the resilience theory, our study explored how migrants in South Africa managed to cope with heightened vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these resilient behaviors can provide insights into addressing the health inequities experience by this population. Methods We conducted an interpretive phenomenological analysis study to understand the key challenges of migrant populations in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2022) and how resourceful they became in overcoming these challenges. Using a purposive sampling approach, we conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with migrants from other African countries, including asylum seekers, refugees, permit holders, and undocumented migrants in two South African provinces. Results Three interconnected aspects of migrant pandemic precarity were revealed: financial insecurities, food insecurities, and health concerns. Social connectedness and resource provision ensured inclusivity and supported these migrant populations in navigating the difficulties posed by migrant pandemic precarity. Conclusions The South African government should implement migrant-inclusive approaches and empower structures and programs that enhance migrants’ resilience to future crises. We argued that to reduce health inequities among migrant populations in South Africa, these resilience approaches can be harnessed in three ways. (1) the South African government should create mechanisms and processes to identify and integrate migrants with critical skills into their workforce. (2) enhancing collaborations between civil society organizations, local governments, and international organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration, to address food insecurities among the migrant population. (3) enforcing their constitutional mandate to provide free basic health care services to all migrants in South Africa by removing barriers such as health care provider attitudes toward migrants’ access to health care services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01573-9Migrant pandemic precarityCOVID-19Undocumented migrantsAdversityPhenomenological interpretive analysisSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Ferdinand C. Mukumbang Babatope O. Adebiyi Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations Archives of Public Health Migrant pandemic precarity COVID-19 Undocumented migrants Adversity Phenomenological interpretive analysis South Africa |
| title | Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations |
| title_full | Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations |
| title_fullStr | Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations |
| title_short | Using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among South African migrant populations |
| title_sort | using the resilience theory to understand and address migrant pandemic precarity among south african migrant populations |
| topic | Migrant pandemic precarity COVID-19 Undocumented migrants Adversity Phenomenological interpretive analysis South Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01573-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ferdinandcmukumbang usingtheresiliencetheorytounderstandandaddressmigrantpandemicprecarityamongsouthafricanmigrantpopulations AT babatopeoadebiyi usingtheresiliencetheorytounderstandandaddressmigrantpandemicprecarityamongsouthafricanmigrantpopulations |