Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
1-1-2025
Journal
Effectiveness and Acceptability of Ventilation Modifications in Healthcare Facilities, Liberia 2022–2023
DOI
10.1017/ash.2025.10077
PMID
40893129
PMCID
PMC12394025
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
8-22-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of ventilation interventions in naturally ventilated hospitals in Liberia.
Design: Difference-in-differences analysis of pre- and post-air changes per hour of intervention and control spaces.
Setting: Hospitals in Bong and Montserrado Counties, Liberia.
Participants: Seventy patient care spaces were evaluated at baseline. Six spaces underwent physical intervention modifications, while 2 spaces were assessed for indirect effects and 2 others used as controls. Healthcare workers were interviewed to assess ventilation knowledge and acceptability.
Interventions: Ventilation interventions included the installation of window screens, louvered doors and windows, and wind turbines.
Methods: We measured carbon dioxide levels with portable meters and documented persons per room to estimate per-person ventilation rates in both L/s/person for the initial assessment and air changes per hour (ACH) in the intervention. Measurements were taken in patient care spaces in 7 hospitals in Liberia. Healthcare worker acceptability was evaluated via structured interviews.
Results: Two-thirds (46/70) of patient care spaces were below the WHO-recommended ventilation threshold of 60 L/s/person. Six spaces underwent ventilation interventions, including placement of window screens (3), wind turbines (2), and louvered doors and windows (1), with 2 additional spaces being indirectly affected by these interventions and 2 more spaces serving as controls. Ventilation improved by an average of 2 ACH in the spaces with wind turbines and louvered doors and windows. Overall acceptability of the interventions was high.
Conclusions: Implementing interventions to improve ventilation in naturally ventilated healthcare facilities is efficacious, feasible, and acceptable, though longer-term evaluations should assess sustainability.
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Arthur, Ronan F; Styczynski, Ashley; Srinivasan, Krithika; et al., "Effectiveness and Acceptability of Ventilation Modifications in Healthcare Facilities, Liberia 2022–2023" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 4970.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/4970
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