Keywords:
Paediatric, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, MR, Education, Equipment, Socio-economic issues, Workforce, Education and training
Authors:
R. B. Olatunji, J. Akinmoladun, O. M. Atalabi; Ibadan/NG
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-3202
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 children in Nigeria who forms a ready mix of consumers of paediatric radiology services.[3,4] Therefore,
the demand for paediatric radiology services is huge and could be provided by some of the 250-300 certified radiologists in Nigeria.[5-7] Despite this apparent demand for paediatric radiologists,
there is paucity of data quantifying existing medical personnel providing paediatric imaging services in Nigeria.
Such data could be useful to policy makers,
foreign development partners,
and other agencies interested in health services for Nigerian children.
The aim of this study was to profile the resources currently available for the practice of paediatric radiology in Nigeria in order to identify gaps and areas for improvement.