An Assessment of Noise Pollution and Its Health Implications in Hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State

Abstract

Noise pollution undesirable sound capable of disturbing normal activities such as working, sleeping, and conversations. The World Health Organization, 2001 warned that noise pose a serious threat to human wellbeing. But little is known about noise pollution in hospitals in study area. The study is aimed at assessing the level of noise pollution in selected private and public hospitals in Anyigba town, Kogi state. While sound measuring meters were used to measure the sound intensity at the selected hospitals, questionnaires were used to elicit responses from the respondents. Findings shows that 101 (63%) of the respondents indicated that noise pollution has effect on patients in the hospital, stressing that excessive noise in hospitals reduces the intelligibility of speech and impairs communication, causing annoyance, irritation, fatigue and reduction of the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. The paper found that noise levels in some hospitals in Anyigba have exceeded the WHO and EPA recommended noise decibel levels (35dB) in hospital rooms. These hospitals include Kogi State University Teaching Hospital (60dB), Kogi State University, Medical Center, (59dB), Grimard Catholic Hospital (58dB), Good Shepard hospital (58dB), Nebo Multi-Care Hospital (55dB), Pacific Hospital (54dB), and Blue House Hospital (52dB). Hypothesis tested says there is no statistically significant variation in the level of noise pollution between selected hospitals in Anyigba. The paper suggested that hospital noise emission level in the study area should not exceed the WHO and EPA standard (i.e., 35dB).