Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality in Ghanaian Public Health Facilities: Challenges and the Role of Automation Technologies

Traditional methods of managing IEQ in public health facilities in Ghana tend to be reactive rather than proactive, often relying on manual interventions that may not adequately address the complex interplay of factors affecting the indoor environment. This study aimed to investigate the indoor environmental quality in public health facilities through automation technologies, emphasizing Esikado District Hospital and Shama Health Centre. This study employed a mixed-methods research design incorporating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Analyses including descriptive statistics and documentation analyses were conducted to assess the existing legal framework. The study revealed that there were no existing legal frameworks or regulations to govern IEQ standards in Ghana hence hospitals had to rely on international guidelines to maintain IEQ at the facilities assessed. Both hospitals had their CO2 (400 ppm & 270 ppm) and Air particulate (8.2µg/m³ for PM2.5 & 4.2 µg/m³ for PM2.5) within the acceptable limits according to international guidelines. The study promotes well-structured policies that give environmental elements in hospital settings priority by highlighting the direct link between higher IEQ and improved health outcomes for both patients and staff. The study also pointing out that there aren't many local laws controlling IEQ, the study promotes the creation of thorough legal frameworks that can guarantee constant compliance with IEQ requirements in public health facilities, eventually creating a more secure and comfortable medical setting. The study concludes that regulations and legal frameworks must be formulated in the country to enforce healthcare facilities better to comply with acceptable IEQ limits in their facilities. Implementing IEQ-controlling automation technologies will go a long way in improving overall facility management and indirectly influencing patient recovery.