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
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 facilities.
Workforce and Training
Among the Radiologists,
10 (21.7%) affirmed that their practice was focused on paediatric imaging and 1 (2.9%) of the trainees had a strong interest in paediatric imaging.
2 (4.4%) Radiologists devoted at least half of their work time to Paediatric Radiology (figure 1). 22 (47.9%) of the Radiologists were exposed to some form of sub-specialty training abroad,
of whom 7 (31.8%) had the training for at least six months duration.
Only 1 (2.2%) of the Radiologists received a 3-month long training in Paediatric Radiology overseas (figure 2).
The respondents indicated presence of other specialist medical staff dedicated to the care of children in their facility.
Surgeons (63.8%),
Neonatologists (52.5%) and Neurologists (45%) were the top three paediatric specialist medical staff available in the facility of the respondents.
Equipment and Challenges
Pooling the reported numbers by the respondents,
the respective functional units for Ultrasound,
X-ray,
Fluoroscopy,
CT,
and MRI machines were 286,
188,
33,
49,
and 38.
Of these numbers,
14 Ultrasound units (4.9%),
4 X-ray units (2.1%),
and 1 MRI unit (1.25%) were reserved for paediatric imaging while no fluoroscopy or CT unit was dedicated to children (figure 3).
Lack of dedicated equipment and trained paediatric radiologists were the main challenges to children imaging respectively identified by 70% and 27.5% of the respondents (figure 4).