RADIATION

Radiography among the pediatrics plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of childhood illnesses, but children are more sensitive to the effects of ionizing radiation, and this aspect makes it necessary that dose should be optimized to reduce the long-term risks. This work determined the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of radiographers towards the methods of reducing the dose of radiation in pediatric radiography in Benin Metropolis. Sixty radiographers participated in a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire and data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Responses were summarized by descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to determine the relationships with each other at a significance level of 0.05. Awareness about ALARA principle was 100 per cent with only 38.3 per cent being aware about Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). Although the majority of respondents (81.7) cited that they reduced the exposure factors and 80% utilized Automatic Exposure Control (AEC), very few (21.7) used the pediatric-specific exposure charts. There were positive attitudes towards radiation safety but this was not implemented due to lack of immobilizing devices (86.7%), poor calibration of collimators (68.3%), and lack of functional AEC systems (60%). The years of experience were also significantly related to using collimation properly (p = 0.001). The study finds that radiographers in Benin Metropolis do not only demonstrate a high level of awareness and positive attitude towards the idea of pediatric dose reduction but also a moderate level of compliance that is attained by infrastructural and procedural barriers. I would recommend strengthening equipment maintenance, applying pediatric imaging guidelines, and improving unremitting professional training as a prevention of safer and more efficient pediatric radiographic practices.

This study examined the awareness and compliance of radiographers with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) guidelines at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. The ICRP provides global standards for radiation safety, and assessing how well these guidelines are understood and applied in local clinical settings is vital for protecting both patients and staff. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The entire population of thirty-one (31) radiographers working at UBTH participated, making it a census study. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire that covered respondents’ demographic details, awareness of ICRP principles, level of compliance, and perceived barriers to effective radiation protection. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to summarize responses, while inferential statistics, including the chi-square test and t-test, were applied to test the study hypotheses. Findings revealed that most radiographers were young (20–29 years) and male- dominated, with a majority having 1–2 years of professional experience. The study showed a high level of awareness of ICRP guidelines (mean = 3.78 ± 0.86), particularly concerning the ALARA principle and occupational dose limits. However, compliance was found to be moderate (mean = 3.24 ± 0.87) and not statistically significant. Factors such as years of experience, training frequency, and availability of protective devices were found to influence compliance levels. Qualitative responses pointed to institutional challenges, including a shortage of radiation protection equipment, poor maintenance of imaging machines, work overload, and limited refresher training. These factors appear to hinder full adherence to radiation protection standards despite high awareness levels. The study concludes that radiographers at UBTH possess strong theoretical knowledge of radiation safety but face structural and logistical barriers that affect their ability to comply with ICRP guidelines consistently. It is recommended that hospital management improve the availability of protective devices, conduct regular radiation safety training, and strengthen institutional monitoring systems. Doing so will enhance compliance, promote a stronger radiation safety culture, and ensure better protection for both patients and practitioners.