Lessons from Applying the Community Rapid Assessment Method to COVID-19 Protective Measures in Three Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented both challenge and opportunity, necessitating the use of various tools and approaches to understand how the virus is affecting children and their families all over the world. Effective management of the pandemic relies heavily on individual and community behaviors and norms. Understanding how key protective behaviors (e.g., physical distancing and the use of masks and handwashing) differ among population groups, how they change over time and in response to which drivers and barriers, as well as understanding the needs of affected communities, is crucial in designing an effective response and requires capturing timely community-sourced data at multiple time points.