Knowledge and practice of Health Care Workers regarding radiographic imaging in women of reproductive age group at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano

Abstract

Background: Current clinical practice in many developing settings often requires the use of ionizing radiation for diagnosis. However, there are potential hazards when women of reproductive age are subjected to ioninzing radiation and healthcare workers should have safeguards to prevent unsafe exposures as they may relate to pregnancy. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception of risk and safeguards involved in radiographic imaging of women of reproductive age group by healthcare workers at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study of 202 doctors, radiographers and physiotherapists in AKTH using a pre-tested self-administred questionnaire. Additionally, 117 radiological investigations request forms were reviewed for women within the reproductive age group only for imaging modalities that utilize ionizing radiation taken in AKTH.
Results: Majority of the respondents underestimated the fetal doses from conventional X-ray imaging modalities. Only 20% of respondents suggested that the risk to the fetus begins at radiation dose of 10mGy. Only 16% of the radiological forms reviewed had the column for last menstrual period completed with the required information on radiological request forms despite 97.9% of respondents indicating the use of last menstrual period as a means of screening for pregnancy. There was no relationship between the knowledge of guidelines on when/how to screen for pregnancy with respondents years of service (p= 0.475).
Conclusion: The overall knowledge of healthcare workers regarding safe radiation fetal doses was inadequate. The level of compliance with guidelines stating when and how to screen for pregnancy was poor.

Key words: ionizing radiation, pregnancy, knowledge, safeguards, healthcare workers