📖 ABSTRACT/OVERVIEW
Surgical gown fabric performance directly influences both infection control efficacy and wearer thermal comfort during medical procedures, making textile characterisation essential for healthcare procurement quality assurance. This study assesses the air permeability and moisture vapour transmission rate of woven cotton fabrics used in the manufacture of surgical gowns at a textile production facility in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Fabric samples of varying thread counts representing single-layer surgical gown material were characterised for air permeability using a digital air permeability tester, moisture vapour transmission rate by the desiccant method following BS 7209, and liquid barrier performance assessed by hydrostatic pressure resistance. Fabric weight, thread count, and weave construction were documented as independent variables. Statistical analysis explored correlations between physical fabric parameters and functional performance metrics. Results indicate that increased thread count significantly reduced air permeability from 68 to 19 cm3/cm2/s as count increased from 90 to 150 threads per centimetre. Moisture vapour transmission rates ranged from 2400 to 4100 g/m2/day, with lower thread counts providing significantly better thermal comfort through higher moisture vapour transport. Hydrostatic pressure resistance was insufficient in all fabric constructions tested, confirming that untreated woven cotton lacks adequate liquid barrier performance for critical-zone surgical gown requirements as defined by EN 13795 standards. The study recommends water-repellent finishing treatments for surgical gown cotton fabrics used in Kaduna State healthcare facilities and proposes specific thread count and finishing specifications for improved performance in Nigerian healthcare textile procurement standards. Keywords: surgical gown, cotton fabric, air permeability, moisture vapour transmission, Kaduna
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