Variations in COVID-19 interventions : a systematic review and meta-ethnography of government policy responses and characteristics in eastern Africa

A plethora of policies were used to contain COVID-19. However, there is limited understanding of the policies, their timing, and their characteristics in eastern Africa. We systematically analyzed COVID-19 policies, described their characteristics, and assessed their opportunities and challenges across the eastern Africa region. We searched multidisciplinary electronic sources for policies pertinent to COVID-19 in eastern Africa published between December 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. We extracted the data into an EndNote library and screened it using predetermined criteria. Thereafter, we analyzed the data using a meta-ethnographic framework and assessed the quality of policy documents using the logic of events framework. Our search yielded n = 20,593 documents of which n = 66 met our inclusion criteria. Three main themes of social protection, mitigation of social-economic impacts, and prevention and control of COVID-19 emerged. The three themes had nine subthemes. Statutory and non-statutory policy measures were used concurrently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the policies infringed on civil liberties and human rights, were politicized, and caused social-economic decline. Delineating COVID-19 from politics and synchronizing policies across the region will balance health and social-economic risks.