Impact of natural ventilation and outdoor environment on indoor air quality and occupant health in low-income tropical housing

Abstract

Ventilation is pivotal in mitigating indoor pollutants and ensuring comfortable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) levels globally. The outdoor environment and ventilation mechanisms significantly impact indoor air quality and occupant health. This research investigated the impact of natural ventilation (NV) and outdoor environment (OE) on indoor air quality (AQ) and occupant health (HI) in low-income housing in Kampala City, Uganda. The study followed a mixed methodology approach by employing self-administered questionnaires and statistical modeling using IBM® SPSS® Amos V24 to analyze the relationships between Natural Ventilation (NV), indoor Air Quality (AQ), Outdoor Environment (OE), and occupant health (HI). The research reveals a strong correlation (0.76) between NV and AQ. In contrast, correlations between AQ and OE (0.16) and NV and OE (0.08) are weak. Model comparative fit indices (CFI: 0.984, SRMR: 0.029, RMSEA: 0.053) indicate an excellent fit. Reliability is high with Cronbach's alpha (NV: 0.800, AQ: 0.862, OE: 0.782) and AVE values (NV: 0.832, AQ: 0.869, OE: 0.786). Significant positive relationships were found between NV and AQ and AQ and HI, highlighting the importance of natural ventilation in improving indoor air quality and occupant health. The study supports SDGs 3, 11, and 13, promoting sustainable building practices and promoting health, enhanced living conditions, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.