Socio-demographic determinants of safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt Metropolis of Rivers State

Abstract

The aim of this study was to unravel the socio-demographic determinants of safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt Metropolis of Rivers State. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was adopted for the study as the research design. The sample size 314 was determined using Cochran formula method. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted for the study which was presented in three stages in order to select the sample for the study. The instrument for eliciting information for this study was structured questionnaire titled Questionnaire on Socio-Demographic determinants of Safety Practices among Medical Radiological Workers (QSDSPMW). The Reliability coefficient value of 0.82 was obtained using Pearson Products Moment Correlation Coefficient. Collected data were coded and analyzed using Statistical Products for Service Solution (version 25.0). The findings of the study showed that there is no significant difference in safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt metropolis of Rivers State based on gender (p>0.05); there is no significant difference in safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt metropolis of Rivers State based on availability of PPE (p<0.05); there is no significant difference in safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt metropolis of Rivers State based on training (p>0.05); there is a significant difference in safety practices among medical radiological workers in Port Harcourt metropolis of Rivers State based on availability of PPE (p<0.05). It was concluded that the rate of exposure to occupational hazards was determines by level adherence with safety practices based on gender, training, work experience, availability of protective devices. The following recommendations were made among others; managers of medical radiographic facility should ensure that safety or protective devices are supplied, available and used in the facility by workers/technicians during diagnostic proceedings.