Access to Care

• Number of community health workers employed in Durham County
  • Baseline will be set summer of 2022
• Percent of uninsured and underinsured residents who have a usual primary care provider
  • 82.9% of black residents, 82.9% of white residents and 50.8% of Hispanic/Latin residents

Mental Health

• Percent of Durham County residents who report getting the social and emotional support they need always or usually
  • County-wide– 76.9%; Hispanic/Latin– 52.2%; updated data available spring 2023
• Number of days of the past 30 were not good mental health days
  • County-wide– 0 days 51.6%; 1-2 days 13.8%; 17.8% 8 or more days out of the last 30.
  • Hispanic or Latin- 0 days 56.4%; 1-2 days 12.3% ;11.1% 8 or more days out of the last 30.

Housing

• Number of housing resources available in NCCARE360
  • 12 organizations

• Number of Durham County residents referred and linked to housing resources through NCCARE360
  • 766 referrals made, 302 accepted by the receiving organizations January-December 2021
• Confirmations among lead tested ages birth to 6 years
  • 5,104 tested; 10 with 5-9 mcg/dl and 3 confirmed with 10-19 mcg/dl (2019)
• Residents who understand the effect of housing on health
  • 55% County-wide; 40% Hispanic/Latin

Obesity, Diabetes, and Food Access

• Number of new Healthy Mile Trails created by December 31, 2021
  • 8 existing Healthy Mile Trails; 2 new
• Produce redeemed by Bull City Bucks participants
  • Distributed $53,334 January 1, 2022 through August 31, 2021 when program ended

Cancer remains the leading cause of death among Durham residents, followed by heart disease. Cerebrovascular disease moved to the fourth leading cause of death from the third in 2018. Other Ischemic heart diseases is now the third leading cause of death, previously not included in the leading causes. Ischemic heart disease occurs when there is insufficient oxygen in the heart’s muscles. Trachea, bronchus and lung diseases are also a new leading cause of death. Detailed tables of leading causes of death by race and sex are below. Rates for races other than Black and white are excluded due to small numbers of events, resulting in unstable rates. There was a total of 296 deaths related to COVID-19 in Durham County from March 12, 2020 through February 28, 2022.

Durham County confirmed 25,894 COVID-19 cases throughout 2021. The data revealed racial disparities in COVID-19 cases, similar to other health issues. Black or African Americans are over-represented in COVID-19 cases, making up 36% of Durham’s population but representing nearly 44% of total cases. While 54% of Durham’s population is white 31% of COVID-19 cases are represented by this demographic. Hispanic or Latin residents are proportionately represented in COVID-19 cases, making up approximately 14% of the population and 17% of total cases.

Durham County confirmed its first case of Omicron variant on December 20, 2021. During the first 11 days of January, Durham saw 6,475 cases, equating to 25% of the total cases confirmed in 2021 due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. This led to a total of 70,757 COVID-19 cases confirmed through February 28, 2022. This surge in COVID-19 cases illuminated a need for additional testing sites, especially in marginalized communities at trusted locations, at-home testing kits available with minimal barriers, and the proper masks recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, COVID-19 testing locations were added in Durham to include Wheels Fun Park, El Centro Hispano, Durham County Memorial Stadium, and the parking lot of the Durham County Health and Human Services Building. Community Health Workers were trained to disseminate information on how to retrieve free at-home test kits regardless of internet accessibility. N95 masks were distributed from public libraries.

Several groups emerged in response to the need for testing and vaccine equity. Partnership for Healthy Seniors and More, LATIN-19 and African American Covid Taskforce+ (AACT+) created regular convening spaces to strategize methods for closing the gaps for health inequities related to COVID-19. Several existing community-based organizations hosted vaccination events, developed health literacy tools, and provided question and answer sessions with trusted health care providers. In line with health equity principles, testing and vaccinations were provided in community spaces such as schools, churches, and resource fairs.
 

Diversity and Equity in Research- Duke School of Medicine opened a new clinical research center in Durham after receiving a $2.65 million grant from The Duke Endowment to increase diversity and equity. Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, and Duke University Health System started the “Changing the Face of Clinical Research at Duke Through Community Outreach and Engagement” initiative to achieve equitable representation in clinical research. The focuses of this project include building community trust, reducing health inequities and supporting community engagement strategies that address research participation barriers. This effort will also include a Community Advisory Council comprised of partners from the African American COVID Taskforce Plus (AACT+), faith leadership networks, LATIN-19 and North Carolina Central University among other valuable partners.

New Community Health Improvement Plans- The Partnership for a Healthy Durham completed Community Health Improvement Plans. Plans are developed for affordable housing, access to healthcare and insurance, communications, mental health, and obesity, diabetes and food access, Durham’s top health priorities identified in the 2017 Community Health Assessment. Committee members, community members and partners collaboratively developed the strategies and interventions for 2022-2024. These plans focus on building equity, strengthening and elevating existing efforts throughout Durham, and building sustainability by advocating for policy changes.

Award Winning Coronavirus Data Hub- In April 2020, Durham County Department of Public Health, Durham County Emergency Medical Services, Duke Health, and DataWorks developed a Durham County Coronavirus Data Hub including information on confirmed COVID-19 cases. Vaccine data was added to the dashboard in 2021, showing that 505,777 doses of COVID vaccines were administered January to December of that year. This number includes first, second and third doses. Vaccine data is presented in categories such as age groups, vaccine sites, dates and includes data aggregated by zip codes and census tracts, including demographic data. In 2021, Durham County Department of Public Health received the National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award in the Health Category for the dashboard that recently hit 1,000,000 total views.
Duke Health and Durham County Department of Public Health staff at community event.