{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T02:17:37Z","timestamp":1777515457787,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,18]],"date-time":"2023-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1674000000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"3SqAir Interreg Sudoe Project","award":["UI\/BD\/152067\/2021"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UI\/BD\/152067\/2021"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","award":["UI\/BD\/152067\/2021"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UI\/BD\/152067\/2021"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Buildings"],"abstract":"<jats:p>High noise levels in hospitals can affect patients\u2019 well-being, staff productivity, and medical error rates. This study measured noise in two intensive care units (ICUs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An occupant\u2019s survey and a continuous field sampling were conducted in May and June 2021 in each ICU, using a T Tocas SL 1361 digital sound level meter and an online questionnaire. In GH-ICU, variations in the noise levels for the day, evening, and night-time were recorded as measuring 60.5\u201394.6 dBA, 61.9\u201390.0 dBA and 33.3\u201380.2 dBA respectively, while respective values of 58.8\u201375.5 dBA, 57\u201375 dBA, and 33.9\u201374.8 dBA were recorded for CH-ICU. The weekly noise equivalent level (Leq) of 82.8 dBA and Lden of 83.8 dBA for GH-ICU was computed, and 68.6 dBA and Lden 72.1 dBA for CH-ICU. This study found that the noise levels in both ICUs exceeded the recommended limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for hospitals, while three-quarters of occupants expressed dissatisfaction with the acoustic environment. The results suggest the need for immediate intervention, including implementing suitable noise mitigation measures since hospital workers and patients are prone to long-term exposure to high noise, which can decrease working performance and health problems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings13020278","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,19]],"date-time":"2023-01-19T03:16:52Z","timestamp":1674098212000},"page":"278","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["Evaluation of Noise Level in Intensive Care Units of Hospitals and Noise Mitigation Strategies, Case Study: Democratic Republic of Congo"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5948-5303","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jean-Paul Kapuya Bulaba","family":"Nyembwe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2780-5418","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"John Omomoluwa","family":"Ogundiran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Manuel","family":"Gameiro da Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3418-0030","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Albino Vieira Sim\u00f5es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1097\/00003246-200301000-00018","article-title":"Noise, stress, and annoyance in a pediatric intensive care unit","volume":"31","author":"Morrison","year":"2003","journal-title":"Crit. 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