Trends, Patterns and Drivers of Cross-border Migration in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: Evidence from Kilte-Awlaelo-Health and Demographic Surveillance Site

Abstract

Background

Ethiopia has strong and broad-based economic growth over the past decade. However, cross-border migration to various destinations has been escalating year after year making long and perilous journeys.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the trend and drivers of cross-border migration at the Kilte-Awlaelo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (KA-HDSS).

Method

Population-based longitudinal study design was conducted by extracting data for nine consecutive years (2009–2017) from KA-HDSS database. In order to determine the trends, patterns and drivers of cross-border migration KA-HDSS data sets were analyzed (2009–2017). We used frequencies, percentages, and graphs to describe the trends and drivers of cross migration.

Results

Economic motivation, mainly to seek jobs and better income at destinations, as well as social factors such as failure in educational endeavors, marriage, family reunion, and divorce, were reported as drivers of the migration of individuals from the study area. Those single (83.0%), attended elementary school (54.9%) and age group of 15-24 (58%) had high proportion of cross boarder migration. The present study found that the number of cross-border migrants from the study site has increased since the base year, with some fluctuations. The most preferred place of destination for the emigrants from the study site were Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabia.

Conclusions

Cross border migration is remained high across time. Improving the structural problems (unemployment, poverty, and low income) at origin that cause people to migrate in the first place and formulating a comprehensive national migration management policy are imperative to minimize the tragedies associated with irregular migration and to capitalize on the regular form of migration.