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Background: Medical diagnostic radiation is manmade sources of exposure in medical practices.
Ionizing radiation yields known health hazard that may vary from skin burn to cancer or death. In
Ethiopia, health facilities are growing in number with the increasing facility of radiology services.
However, the number of personnel, the provision of spare part of machine, quality assurance and
other aspect has not grown with demand of safety.
Objectives: The study was designed to assess the status of radiation exposure due to diagnostic xrays
among patients and personnel.
Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out in 43 functional diagnostic x-ray institutions from
January to February 2005 in Addis Ababa. A total of 215 patients who were examined for chest
posterior-anterior (PA) were randomly selected. In addition, all radiology personnel who had dose
report of the year 2004 were the study subjects. National Radiation Protection Authority completed
radiation surveillance and quality control records of institutions were also considered.
Results: The mean (SD) skin entrance dose of patients was 1.877(1.546) mSv. Out of the total 215
patients, 206(95.8%) of patients’ shallow dose and 191(88.8%) patients entrance deep dose were
greater than 0.4mSv. The annual mean (SD) skin entrance dose for radiology personnel was found
to be 0.407(0.225) mSv. According to records analysis of the National Radiation Protection
Authority quality control, 15(19.2%), 13(16.7%) and 17(21.8%) of institutions machines were
deviated with in unacceptable range in their generator voltage, the machines timer and, their
collimation and beam alignment respectively. Multi variate analysis indicated that exposure setting
v i i i
greater than 25mAS [OR= 3.141; 95% CI = (1.170-8.432)] had impact on patients’ received dose to
be high.
Conclusion: Adult patients examined for chest-PA entrance dose was abnormally high. Thus, great
efforts will be expected from different sectors of the country in order to bring the patients received
dose for specified radiological procedure to minimum level. |
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