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Durham County, North Carolina

A Community Diagnosis including Secondary Data Analysis and Qualitative Data Collection

Authors: Holly Franklin, Melissa Green, Cynthia Jaconski, Alex Pence, Jennifer Rice, Jeff Rurka
Preceptor: Tekola Fisseha, M.P.H. Durham County Department of Public Health
Field Coordinator: Sandra Crouse Quinn, Ph.D.

Completed during 1999-2000 in partial fulfillment of requirements for HBHE 240 and 241

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
School of Public Health
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Methodology
white space Limitations of primary data
white spaceSecondary data
white spaceLimitations of secondary data

Secondary Data Analysis

Geography and History
white space Geographic Characteristics of Durham County
white space History of Durham County
white space The Economic Landscape of Durham County

Demographic, Educational, and Economic Characteristics
white space Demographic Indicators
white space Education
white space Economics

Health Indicators and Characteristics
white space Mortality
white space Cancer Mortality
white space Cancer Morbidity
white space Communicable Diseases
white space Pregnancy
white space Teen Pregnancy
white space Infant Mortality
white space Health Care Resources

Social Health and Indicators
white space Behavioral Health
white space Domestic Violence and Other Crimes
white space Environmental Health

Primary Data Analysis

CHAPTER 1: Economics and Job Training
CHAPTER 2: Poverty
CHAPTER 3: Housing
CHAPTER 4: Crime
CHAPTER 5: Behavioral Health
CHAPTER 6: Health Issues
CHAPTER 7: Cultural Diversity/Hispanic Issues
CHAPTER 8: Education
CHAPTER 9: Rural Durham County
Discussion and Recommendations

References

APPENDIX A: Interview Guides

APPENDIX B: List of Interviewees

APPENDIX C: Community Forum Report and Materials

FIGURES

Figure 1   Median Annual Family Income (1996)
Figure 2   Number of Persons Below Poverty Level (1996) In Durham County, North Carolina
Figure 3   Summary Poverty Statistics for Durham County and State of North Carolina (1998)
Figure 4   Household Information, Durham County and North Carolina (1990)

TABLES

Table 1    Selected Demographic Characteristics of Durham County, Peer Counties, and the State, 1998
Table 2    Projected Hispanic Population Growth, Durham County, 1991-1994
Table 3    School Aged Population, By Race, Durham County, 1997
Table 4    Percent Educational Attainment for Durham, Wake, and Orange Counties and North Carolina, 1998
Table 5    Percent of Durham County Residents, By Race, 25 Years and Over, With Less Than High School Diploma, 1990
Table 6    Percent Durham County Students Performing at or Above Current Grade Level, By Race, 1997-1998
Table 7   Leading Causes of Deaths for Durham County and North Carolina, 1997
Table 8   Cancer Mortality Rates in Durham County for the Time Period 1991 to 1995
Table 9   Comparison of State and County Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 Persons, By Year
Table 10   Communicable Disease Incidence Rates per 10,000 Persons for Durham County and Peer Comparisons, 1997
Table 11   Live Births, By Race, 1998
Table 12   Infant Deaths and Infant Mortality Rates for Durham County and State, 1998
Table 13   Population/Provider Ratios, By County and State, 1997
Table 14   North Carolina Area Program Admissions, By Age and Region, FY 1997-1998
Table 15   North Carolina Area Program Admissions, By sex, Racial/Ethnic Characteristics, and Region, FY 1997-1998
Table 16   Leading corporate polluters in Durham County, 1997
Table 17   Determinants of Various Themes by Level of Socio-Ecological Framework