Drivers and enablers of dampness mitigation intervention adoption: Evidence from construction practitioners
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.4.65Keywords:
Building Defect, Construction Industry, Dampness, Enabling & Driving Factors, Mitigation PracticesAbstract
Dampness remains one of the most prevalent and costly issues affecting both residential and public buildings in Ghana. This problem reduces structural integrity, worsens building appearance, and increases health risks for occupants. Despite its widespread nature, empirical evidence on the specific factors that construction stakeholders consider essential for addressing dampness remains limited. This research draws upon the Diffusion of Innovation Theory as the underpinning theory for the study. This study identified and ranked nine potential factors that contribute to effective dampness control using a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design. It employed a convergent mixed-methods approach targeting building construction practitioners involved in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. A total of 366 sample was utilised, consisting of 352 for quantitative analysis (Descriptive statistics) and 14 for qualitative analysis (Thematic). Stratified and convenience sampling technique was employed for the quantitative component and purposive sampling technique was employed for the qualitative component. The factors examined included adequate training and capacity building (88.92%), enforcement of building codes (83.24%), and availability of affordable quality materials (82.95%), which emerged as the most strongly supported factors and form a foundational level considered essential for sustainable improvement. Conversely, implementation of policy guidelines received the least support (1.14%), despite positive qualitative feedback. This discrepancy suggests stakeholders see Ghana's regulatory framework as sufficient in principle but poorly enforced in practice, rather than viewing policy itself as unimportant. Qualitative findings reinforced and expanded upon the quantitative rankings, revealing an interdependent relationship: training enhances awareness, which influences clients' investment decisions, and client investment sustains demand for affordable materials and professional collaboration. The study concludes that reducing dampness in Ghana's built environment requires a coordinated, multi-faceted strategy that simultaneously improves human capacity, regulatory enforcement, material affordability, and public awareness, rather than isolated interventions. This study provides specific recommendations for policymakers, professional and training institutions, industry practitioners, and researchers. These findings contribute to the limited empirical literature on drivers of dampness mitigation in construction settings in developing countries and present a prioritised, evidence-based framework to guide future interventions and resource allocation.
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