Logit Analysis of Sound Pressure Levels During Praise and Worship Sessions in Churches: Raising the Spirit or Damaging the Ear?

Abstract

This study assessed sound pressure levels (SPL) during praise and worship sessions in churches in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria, to determine compliance with the 97 dBA exposure threshold adopted for a 30-minute worship session and to identify factors associated with excessive SPL exposure. A random sample of 30 churches comprising 12 (40%) Pentecostal and 18 (60%) non-Pentecostal churches was selected. SPL measurements were obtained during praise and worship sessions using a GM1352 Precision Digital Sound Level Meter with a frequency range of 31.5 Hz–8 kHz and a measuring range of 30–130 dBA. Binary logistic regression was used to model the likelihood of exceeding 97 dBA based on distance from the sound source, church type, instrument type and presence of acoustic materials. Results showed that 18 (60%) churches recorded SPL above 97 dBA, whereas 12 (40%) recorded levels at or below the threshold. The highest recorded SPLs were 111.4 and 111.2 dBA. The overall logistic regression model was statistically significant (χ² = 25.55, df = 4, p < 0.001). Distance from the sound source (χ² = 21.21, p < 0.001) and church type (χ² = 5.68, p = 0.017) were significant predictors of exceeding the 97 dBA threshold, whereas instrument type (p = 0.407) and acoustic materials (p = 0.251) were not significant. The odds ratio for distance was 0.4916 (95% CI: 0.2638–0.9161), indicating lower odds of excessive SPL exposure with increasing distance from the sound source. Church type had an estimated odds ratio of 103.99, although its very wide 95% confidence interval (0.37–28,869.57) indicates substantial uncertainty in the magnitude of the association. The findings indicate that excessive SPL exposure is common during church praise and worship sessions in the study area, highlighting the need for appropriate sound-level monitoring, strategic loudspeaker placement and acoustic management of worship spaces.