Impact Case Study: Reducing the spread of COVID-19 by tracking community perceptions

Understanding community perceptions is key to reducing disease spread in humanitarian settings, yet few tools systematically capture real-time, longitudinal data. The Community Perceptions Tracker (CPT) was developed to address this gap, enabling adaptive public health responses. First piloted during the 2018–2019 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it proved effective in improving outbreak response efforts.

The study helped humanitarian organisations adapt interventions, leading to practical changes such as tweaking COVID-19 messaging, covering transport to vaccination centres and modifying hygiene kits. The tool’s success contributed to its continued use in other outbreaks and expansion beyond the study countries. Additionally, it strengthened local research capacity and reinforced the importance of centring community voices in humanitarian action.

R2HC captures detailed case studies through a process that triangulates and validates evidence on uptake and impact. The case study methodology and full version of this summary case study including references are available on request. Outputs and resources from this study are available on the project page.