Student Short Biography
Margaret is a Registered Architect. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from The Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). She is currently a Project Architect at Mruttu Salmann and Associates,
Architects. She has worked on various projects including residential buildings, institutional buildings, office blocks,
schools and religious buildings. She also worked as an architect at Domus Architects and Vamos Architects. She
has an interest in Building planning, environmental design and climate responsive architecture.
Thesis / Project Title
NATURAL VENTILATION IN MATERNITY HOSPITALS- A Case of Maternity Hospital Buildings in Nairobi, Kenya.
Thesis / Project Abstract
Fresh air in maternity hospital buildings has positive effects on the users such as improved healing for patients and
increased productivity of staff. Poor air quality in indoor spaces has been linked with occupant discomfort.
Symptoms such as dry skin, lethargy, and nasal inflammation have been linked to suboptimal indoor air
quality due to low volumes of fresh air within the spaces, attributed to low air change rates. Passive ventilation
systems have proven to have the ability to provide high air change rates which provide the necessary fresh air for the
wellbeing of patients in maternity hospitals and the general users of the buildings. The recommended air changes per
hour for a maternity hospital in general ranges from 6 ACH to 20 depending on the room function.
This research sets out to establish the application of natural ventilation in maternity hospitals to achieve the required air
changes. Existing literature on natural ventilation for indoor air quality in maternity hospitals is examined with a
view to understand ventilation requirements of maternity hospital patient and staff rooms. It studies building
ventilation in organized maternity facilities to gauge their effectiveness and establish strategies for application of
passive ventilation to provide optimal indoor air quality. It proposes strategies for the use of natural ventilation as the
dominant method for provision of fresh air in maternity hospitals. Case studies of selected maternity hospitals are
documented and an assessment of their indoor air quality is carried out based on established symptoms of ventilation
problems. These markers are analysed against established standards of indoor air quality in maternity hospital rooms.
The research also makes a review of documented studies that link indoor air quality to the patient and staff experiences.
The literature suggests a that discomfort and infection rates are diminished when the air quality is fresh. The data
shows that in describing indoor air quality for maternity spaces, concentrations of contaminants in the air should be
kept at a minimum and the ventilation system should provide for this. In the case of controlled maternity hospital
environments minimal mechanical ventilation and air conditioning can be used.
The study concludes that natural ventilation can be used extensively to provide fresh air in maternity hospitals and in
controlled patient rooms, minimal mechanical ventilation may be applied.
Research Supervisors
Dr Linda Nkatha
Arch. Musau Kimeu