Chapter 5: Community Health Survey

Chapter 5: Community Health Survey

Primary data were gathered through the distribution of the community health assessment survey. The paper version was given out at community events, churches, the health department, schools, Department of Social Services, local hospital, libraries, industry, civic groups, and area health care providers. An online survey was developed by the Vidant Duplin using Survey Monkey and posted on their website. The web survey intended to capture younger population who are frequent users of electronic media. The notice of the survey was shared with the community through the local newspaper, radio station, and listserv. The primary data collection tools were used to collect data from April 1^st - May 19, 2012. The English and Spanish versions of the survey are in Appendix B and the tables of responses are in Appendix C.

A total of 371 respondents completed at least some of the survey; 277 respondents completed the survey online through Survey Monkey with the remaining 94 completing paper surveys. Fourteen of the paper surveys were Spanish language. Many questions have a different denominator than 371. This is due to respondents who either chose not to answer certain questions/portions of the survey or respondents who failed to adhere to the guidelines for answering specific questions (providing multiple answers when a single answer was requested). Twenty-two zip codes of residence were reported by 353 of the respondents. The Zip Codes for Wallace (28466), Beulaville (28518), Kenansville (28349), Warsaw (28398) and Pink Hill (28572) represented almost seventy percent of respondents who provided a zip code of residence. As seen below, the age of respondents was widely distributed.

Over 80% of the respondents who reported gender were women (80.7%). White respondents accounted for 83.0% of surveys collected. It should be noted that 83 survey respondents (22%) did not report their race and another 18% did not report gender. 9.0% of respondents who answered the question about ethnicity indicated that they were of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin. This number is potentially low since 18% of survey respondents did not answer this question. 33 of 304 (10.9%) respondents indicated that they spoke a language other than English at home with Spanish almost the unanimous response. The vast majority of respondents were married (72.9%).

The reported household income was also skewed towards higher values, which is not surprising when coupled with the education component. Well over half (58.5%) indicated they were employed full-time while 1.8% reported being unemployed (non-retired) completely.

1. 
   Low income/poverty
   
2. 
   Drug abuse and distribution
   
3. 
   Lack of/inadequate health insurance
   
4. 
   Gang activity
   
5. 
   Dropping out of school
   
6. 
   Pollution (air, water, land)
   
7. 
   Discrimination/racism
   
8. 
   Criminal activity
   
9. 
   Lack of community support
   
10. 
    Domestic violence
    

1. 
   Higher paying employment
   
2. 
   Availability of employment
   
3. 
   Positive teen activities
   
4. 
   Elder care options
   
5. 
   Number of health care providers
   
6. 
   Road maintenance
   
7. 
   More affordable health services
   
8. 
   Better/more healthy food choices
   
9. 
   Healthy family activities
   
10. 
    Better/more recreational facilities (parks, trails, community centers)
    

1. 
   Eating well/nutrition
   
2. 
   Substance abuse prevention (ex: drugs and alcohol)
   
3. 
   Managing weight
   
4. 
   Exercising/fitness
   
5. 
   Going to the doctor for yearly check-ups and screenings
   
6. 
   Quitting smoking/tobacco use prevention
   
7. 
   Preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (safe sex)
   
8. 
   Stress management
   
9. 
   Elder care
   
10. 
    Caring for family members with special needs/disabilities
    

1. 
   Nutrition
   
2. 
   Drug abuse
   
3. 
   Sexual education
   
4. 
   Reckless driving/speeding
   
5. 
   Sexually transmitted diseases
   
6. 
   Safe sex
   
7. 
   Dental hygiene
   
8. 
   Alcohol
   
9. 
   Tobacco
   
10. 
    Eating disorders
    

Responses from participants indicate the importance of employment and poverty in the county as those are the top issues identified as most affecting quality of life in Duplin County and perceived as needing most improvement. For both adults and children, participants indicated the need for more information about healthy eating and nutrition, and about substance abuse prevention and education.

Respondents reacted strongly to the statement regarding economic opportunity. Only 9.5% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “There is plenty of economic opportunity in Duplin County”. 34.1% of African-Americans indicated they strongly disagreed with the statement compared to 19.7% of white respondents. There was a large difference between African-American and white respondents to the statement “There is plenty of help for people during times of need in Duplin County” as well. 52.2% of African-Americans indicated they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement compared to 21.5% of white respondents.

16.3% of respondents said they had trouble getting health care needed for themselves or a family member in the previous 12 months. Dental clinics (34.6%), general practitioners (30.8%), medical clinics (23.1%) and specialty care (17.3%) were the most frequently cited locations/types of care that they had trouble accessing. Cost or lack of insurance was overwhelmingly identified as a barrier that kept them from accessing care. Inability to get an appointment and long wait times also were often cited.