Roxboro, Person County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creators: name: Maier, Hailey
name: Becker, Millie
name: Blakeney, Natasha
name: Gierisch, Jennifer
name: Shain, Lara
name: Geissinger, Anne
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1999

description: A group of six, first year Masters students from the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) conducted a community diagnosis of the city of Roxboro. A Community Diagnosis involves working with a community in order to discover its strengths and assess areas that may need future attention. Information about the community is compiled through a review of previously gathered data and by talking with residents and service providers about what it is like to live in their community. This is a seven-month process, which is a requirement of Masters students in the HBHE Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Community Diagnosis process initially focused on collecting and summarizing pre-existing data also called secondary data. Sources of secondary data include but are not limited to census data, maps, previously existing documents and newspapers. Each of these sources provided a broader understanding of life in Roxboro. This information also allowed the community diagnosis team to define and describe the geography (location), history, economy, health status and sociodemographic characteristics of Roxboro. Although these data sources are extensive, there are some notable limitations. For example, the most recent data available are from 1990 and therefore do not reflect current changes within the county, city and state. Another limitation is that the most current data for Roxboro does not include the increased population and demographic information from newly annexed land in July 1998 (The Courier Times, 1998). After the pre-existing data were compiled and summarized, the qualitative data collection process began and consisted of interviewing community members and service providers. Qualitative data collection was essential in compiling a complete picture of what life is like in Roxboro. Separate interview guides were created for community members and service providers. In total, 36 interviews were completed: twenty-one community members and fifteen service providers. Through these interviews and our continuous presence in Roxboro, we became more familiar with the community and the residents. Community members also became more comfortable and welcoming of us. Located in Person County, Roxboro is an area of approximately 6.45 square miles in the Northern Piedmont. The city is both urban and rural with a population of 7,332 residents that is relatively evenly distributed among African Americans and Caucasians. There is a long history and lineage of the residents. Many families are descendents of those who have lived in Roxboro for hundreds of years. However, the city has also attracted many newcomers. Community members and service providers described Roxboro as a community of many strengths. For example, Roxboro is a safe, small, close-knit, quiet and friendly community; it is a good place to raise your family and flee from the chaos of a larger city. The residents of Roxboro are friendly, warm, down-to-earth individuals who care about their neighbors. One community member summed it up by saying “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.” Community members and service providers also expressed some concerns about Roxboro. Suggested areas of improvement included recreation, health services, transportation and Latino services. In February of 1999, with the help of the community and sponsors, the student team held a community forum in which the strengths and concerns of community members and service providers were presented to the community. The purpose of this meeting was to summarize what the team had found through both pre-existing data and interviews. It was also an opportunity for community members and services providers to further develop relationships, and to discuss common goals and future directions. Health and recreation were major areas of concern expressed by those who attended the forum.