The state of North Carolina along with the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Program requires local health departments to conduct a comprehensive Community Health Assessment (CHA) every 3-4 years. The most recent Person County Community Health Assessment was conducted in 2022 and submitted to the State in March/April 2023. Through this process, overweight/obesity and substance abuse were identified as health priorities. Within six months of the completion of the CHA, a workgroup, consisting of community leaders, providers, and partners, collaborated to develop Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs) for each of the two identified health priorities. In September 2023, CHIPs were submitted to the State through the web-based Clear Impact Scorecard. The CHIPs follow the Results-Based Accountability framework. Results-Based Accountability is a disciplined way of thinking and taking action used by communities to improve the lives of children, families, and the community as a whole. It is also a framework used by agencies to improve the performance of their programs.

In the interim years between CHAs, local health departments are responsible for submitting a State of the County Health (SOTCH) Report. This is an abridged report that provides updates on progress made towards addressing health priorities, changes in morbidity and mortality data since the CHA, information on emerging issues, and details on any new/paused/discontinued initiatives. SOTCH Reports are also submitted to the State electronically through the Clear Impact Scorecard. Due to this submission requirement and format change from years past, the SOTCH will appear different to stakeholders, community partners, and the general public. Call Person County Health Department at (336) 597-2204 with questions about this report, to learn about local public health services, or to get involved with addressing priority areas.

The next section of the 2024 SOTCH Report provides information about progress made on CHIPs. 

Person County priorities are addressed in the CHIPs. Click on the links below for progress made in 2024.  Note: For anyone viewing this report outside the realms of the Scorecard, information about the programs/activities below is provided through attachments.

For the priority area Overweight/Obesity, see progress tabs for each program below.

  Diabetes Prevention Program

  Med-South Lifestyle Program

  Healthy Eating/Physical Activity/Weight Management Resource Guide

For the priority area Substance Abuse, see progress tabs for each program below.

   CATCH My Breath

   Faith Community Education Initiative 

   Opioid Settlement Initiative 

(References in the Attachments: P - Programs; PM - Performance Measures; A - Activities; ST - Strategies; CO - Coalitions. These are based on the Results-Based Accountability framework.)

The most significant changes in Person County's morbidity data since the CHA is as follows:

• Person County's teen pregnancy rate for females ages 15-19 declined from 2020 (25.8) to 2022 (24.3). However, it remained above the comparable state rate (21.8).
• The prevalence of diagnosed obesity in adults ages 20+ in Person County increased from 22.3% in 2019 to 24.6% in 2021.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are the most common communicable diseases in Person County. The percentage of STIs accounting for communicable diseases decreased from 2021 (92%) to 2024 (87%). Chlamydia remained  the most prevalent STI, followed by gonorrhea.
• Person County's incidence rate for chlamydia decreased from 2020 (601) to 2023 (558.6) and was under the state rate (616). 
• The county's incidence rate for gonorrhea increased from 2020 (173) to 2023 (246.3) and was barely under the state rate (246.6).

The most significant changes in Person County's mortality data since the CHA is as follows:

• COVID-19 went from being the 15th leading cause of death in 2016-2020 to the 5th leading cause of death in 2018-2022.
• Person County's infant mortality rate in 2018-2022 was considered unstable due to less than 20 cases; therefore, not reported. This was definitely a step in the right direction as the 2016-2020 rate was 9.5, reflecting 20 infant deaths. 
• Although there was a slight decrease in the percentage of Person County residents dispensed opioid pills from 2021 (13.4) to 2023 (12.2), there was a significant increase in the percentage of overdose deaths due to illicit opioids from 2020 (63.6) to 2023 (70.6). Person County's percentage of overdose deaths due to illicit opioids is under that of the State (78.1).  

Other notable mortality data for Person County includes the 10 leading causes of death for 2018-2022:

1. Diseases of the heart (1)
2. Cancer (2)
3. All other unintentional injuries (3) 
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases (4)
5. COVID-19 (15)
6. Stroke (5)
7. Diabetes (6)
8. Alzheimer's disease (7)
9. Septicemia (9)
10. Kidney Disease (8)

NOTES: Bold - Person County's rate exceeds the comparable state rate.  (#) - Ranking cited in the CHA for 2016-2020.

Definitions:

• All other unintentional injuries - includes deaths without purposeful intent due to poisoning, falls, burns, choking, animal bites, drowning, and occupational and recreational injuries.
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases - chronic disease of the airways and other structures of the lung; some of the most common are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occupational lung diseases, and pulmonary hypertension.
• Incidence - population-based rate at which new cases of a disease occur and are diagnosed.
• Kidney disease - includes a composite set of kidney disorders like nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis.
• Morbidity - refers generally to the current presence of injury, sickness, or disease in the living population.
• Mortality - death, especially on a larger scale.
• Prevalence - refers to the number of existing cases of a disease or health condition in a population at a defined point in time or during a period of time.
• Septicemia - or sepsis - clinical name for blood poisoning by bacteria.

Data Sources:

• NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), NC State Center for Health Statistics - Statistics and Reports/Vital Statistics, NC Reported Pregnancies; 2022 and 2024 County Health Data Books
• County-Level Data: Risk Factors for Diabetes: Obesity. Centers for Disease Control National Diabetes Surveillance System
• NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System
• NCDHSS, Department of Public Health - NC Overdose Epidemic Data:  2022 & 2024 Co. Health Data Books 

In 2024, there was one identified animal rabies case. Person County Health Department staff worked closely with Person County Animal Services as well as state consultants to follow program guidelines during the investigation process.

Person County experienced an increase in latent TB cases from 2020 to 2024, after an extensive amount of time with no cases. There were no cases in 2020. In 2021, there were two cases, and in both 2022 and 2023 there were three cases. In 2024, there were eight cases. Person County Health Department followed local and state protocols to ensure that individuals were offered and/or received the care that was appropriate to their case.

Data Source: Person County Health Department Communicable Disease Program

New Initiatives in 2024

• Person County Health Department (PCHD) started providing urine gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for both male and female clients.
• PCHD provided on-site flu clinics at most county schools for school personnel and their dependents.
• Piedmont Community College and PCHD have resumed providing a public health rotation for nursing students. Students observe nursing, lab, and provider practices throughout client visits.
• NC Cooperative Extension partnered with PCHD to pilot the Med South Lifestyle Program. Details provided in the Progress on CHIPs section.
• Person County Schools, specifically Northern Middle School, collaborated with PCHD to pilot the CATCH My Breath Youth Vaping Prevention Program. Details provided in the Progress on CHIPs section. 
• PCHD entered into an agreement with Orange County Health Department to participate in the Thriving Hearts Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to implement a multi-level intervention to cultivate conditions for mothers to not only survive pregnancy, but to thrive. Participation by local health departments will be in phases. PCHD's involvement is not scheduled to start until 2026.
• A Substance Use Education Specialist (SUES) was onboarded through Person County Schools. The SUES began servicing students and making referrals shortly after the start of the new school year. This position was made possible by opioid settlement funding.

Data Sources:

• Person County Health Department Personal Health Programs; Health Education
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Person County Center
• Person County Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee