Aims and objectives
Paediatric radiology is an emerging radiology subspecialty in Nigeria.
Unlike the developed world with aging population and sophisticated paediatric radiology practice,
paediatric radiology is nascent in many developing nations with rapidly growing young population.
Nigeria,
a typical developing nation has about half of its estimated 193million people younger than 14 years of age,
and one of the highest population growth rates in the world.[1,2]
In addition to the growing population of children,
there are about 600 physicians dedicated to the medical and surgical care of...
Methods and materials
This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of Nigerian-based certified and trainee Radiologists between October 2017 and April 2018.
The certified Radiologists were examiners at the Nigerian centre of the West African regional Radiology board examinations while the trainee Radiologists participated in an update course in clinical Radiology.
The study instrument was a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire that was pretested on ten (10) radiologists composed equally of 5 randomly selected radiology trainees and trainers at a teaching hospital in Southwest Nigeria.
The four sections of the questionnaire...
Results
Study Participants
Out of 100 questionnaires administered to certified Radiologists and Radiology trainees,
80 were returned filled corresponding to a response rate of 80%.
There were 51(63.8%) male respondents in all and 54 (69.2%) of the study participants were between 30years and 50years old. 46 (57.5%) Radiologists,
14 (17.5%) senior and 20 (25%) junior Radiology trainees respectively completed the questionnaires.
Only 2 (4.4%) of the 46 Radiologists were certified within the past five years.
73 (91%) of the respondents practiced Radiology in tertiary public health...
Conclusion
There is substantial deficit of human and material resources for paediatric imaging in Nigeria despite a predominantly young population.
Paediatric radiology is not a favourite subspecialty among the estimated 250-300 certified radiologists in Nigeria.
Informed investment in dedicated equipment and innovative training are necessary to boost the capacity for paediatric radiology in Nigeria.
References
1.
National population estimates 2006-2016.
www.nigerianstat.gov.ng [accessed 2019 Jan 8
2.The world factbook:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2002.html[accessed 2019 Jan 8]
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Ekure EN,
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Balogun MR,
Woo JG,
Mukhtar-Yola M,
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et al.
Paediatrician workforce in Nigeria and impact on child health.
Niger J Paed 2013; 40:112-118.
4.
Ekure EN,
Sadoh WE,
Bode-Thomas F,
Orogade AA,
Animasahun AB,
Ogunkunle OO, et al.
Audit of availability and distribution of paediatric cardiology services and facilities in Nigeria.
Cardiovasc J Afr 2017; 28:54-59.
5.
Soroosh G,
Ninalowo H,
Hutchens A,...