@article{ref1,
title="Assessing injury and violence prevention in North Carolina's local health departments",
journal="North Carolina medical journal",
year="2016",
author="Mouw, Mary S. and Counts, Jennifer and Fordham, Corinne and Francis, Molly Merrill and Bach, Laura E. and Maman, Suzanne and Proescholdbell, Scott K.",
volume="77",
number="5",
pages="308-313",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Injury and violence-related morbidity and mortality present a major public health problem in North Carolina. However, the extent to which local health departments (LHDs) engage in injury and violence prevention (IVP) has not been well described. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: One objective of the current study is to provide a baseline assessment of IVP in the state's LHDs, describing capacity, priorities, challenges, and the degree to which programs are data-driven and evidence-based. The study will also describe a replicable, cost-effective method for systematic assessment of regional IVP. <br><br>DESIGN: This is an observational, cross-sectional study that was conducted through a survey of North Carolina's 85 LHDs. <br><br>RESULTS: Representatives from 77 LHDs (91%) responded. Nearly one-third (n = 23; 30%) reported that no staff members were familiar with evidence-based interventions in IVP, and over one-third (n = 29; 38%) reported that their LHD did not train staff in IVP. Almost one-half (n = 37; 48%) had no dedicated funding for IVP. On average, respondents said that about half of their programs were evidence-based; however, there was marked variation (mean, 52%; standard deviation = 41). Many collaborated with diverse partners including law enforcement, hospitals, and community-based organizations. There was discordance between injury and violence burden and programming. Overall, 53% of issues listed as top local problems were not targeted in their LHDs' programs. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Despite funding constraints, North Carolina's LHDs engaged in a broad range of IVP activities. However, programming did not uniformly address state injury and violence priorities, nor local injury and violence burden. Staff members need training in evidence-based strategies that target priority areas. Multisector partnerships were common and increased LHDs' capacity. These findings are actionable at the state and local level.<br><br>©2016 by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and The Duke Endowment. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0029-2559",
doi="10.18043/ncm.77.5.308",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.18043/ncm.77.5.308"
}