PERCEPTION OF OPEN SPACES INTEGRATION IN MATERNITY HOSPITAL DESIGNS IN KADUNA, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

Health is associated with total physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is more than just the absence of ailment or sickness. Until recently, the patient in a hospital was treated only on the basis of the presence of an ailment and not as a person within their family or community, the positive and negative influences of the environment on the patient was neglected. Nursing a sick person back to better health requires meeting their psychological, social, spiritual and environmental needs. The awareness of the positive effects of open spaces whether indoor or outdoor on patients' healing process has long been identified in hospital architecture and the integration of open spaces for the purpose of therapy has begun to be applied. This research aims to provide a new, holistic approach to maternity hospital design that involves relieving the fears and disorientation of patients (through the integration of open spaces in maternity hospitals for such therapeutic functions as these) that may hinder medical treatment. Qualitative research method was applied for this research, through the application of observation schedule and questionnaire. Results of this research show that 25% of the research population is indifferent towards the absence of open spaces in maternity hospital design. The research recommended that open spaces should be integrated in the design of maternity hospitals.