An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana

Background: The United Nations encourages national audits of diagnostic imaging equipment and personnel. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20 X-ray and ultrasound units per million people will meet 90% of global imaging needs. This study assessed registered diagnostic imaging resour...

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Main Authors: Garebue D. Nlashwa, Morrison Sinvula, Setso O. Setso, Wallace Miller, Molatedi Lesiamang, Tashinga Maboreke, Richard D. Pitcher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2024-09-01
Series:Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
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Online Access:https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/87
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author Garebue D. Nlashwa
Morrison Sinvula
Setso O. Setso
Wallace Miller
Molatedi Lesiamang
Tashinga Maboreke
Richard D. Pitcher
author_facet Garebue D. Nlashwa
Morrison Sinvula
Setso O. Setso
Wallace Miller
Molatedi Lesiamang
Tashinga Maboreke
Richard D. Pitcher
author_sort Garebue D. Nlashwa
collection DOAJ
description Background: The United Nations encourages national audits of diagnostic imaging equipment and personnel. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20 X-ray and ultrasound units per million people will meet 90% of global imaging needs. This study assessed registered diagnostic imaging resources in Botswana, a high middle-income, sparsely populated African country. Methods: Details of registered diagnostic imaging equipment and personnel were extracted from the Botswana Radiation Protection Inspectorate and the Botswana Health Professions Council databases and stratified by imaging modality, professional category, and by geographical region and healthcare sector. Findings were presented as absolute numbers and resources per million people. Results: Botswana has 130 diagnostic imaging equipment units. General radiography (GR) (n = 79) 60%, mammography (n = 15; 12%), fluoroscopy (n = 13; 10%), computed tomography (n = 13; 10%), magnetic resonance (n = 6; 5%), digital subtraction angiography (n = 3; 2%) and radioisotope (n = 1; 0.7%). General radiography is the only modality where overall public sector resources (n = 44/79, 56%) exceed those of the private sector. Overall GR meet WHO guidelines, while it exceeded WHO guidelines (42–63 units/106 people) in most sparsely populated districts. There are 171 registered radiation workers; 88% (n = 152), radiographers, 9% (n = 15) radiologists and 2% (n = 4) medical physicists. Fifty three per cent of radiographers (n = 80) and 20% of radiologists (n = 3) work in the public sector. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the provision of radiological resources to sparsely populated rural communities. Contribution: The study demonstrates a comprehensive analysis of Radiological resources in an upper-middle-income country in Africa, highlighting important data for medium/long term planning towards achieving an equitable imaging access.
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spelling doaj-art-b3cd6a46cbac45cfbd19cd7b9fd9d3102025-08-20T03:15:55ZengAOSISJournal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa2960-110X2024-09-0121e1e710.4102/jcmsa.v2i1.8733An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in BotswanaGarebue D. Nlashwa0Morrison Sinvula1Setso O. Setso2Wallace Miller3Molatedi Lesiamang4Tashinga Maboreke5Richard D. Pitcher6Division of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaMinistry of Health Botswana, GaboroneMinistry of Health Botswana, GaboroneDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, GaboroneDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, GaboroneDepartment of Radiology, Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, GaboroneDivision of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownBackground: The United Nations encourages national audits of diagnostic imaging equipment and personnel. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20 X-ray and ultrasound units per million people will meet 90% of global imaging needs. This study assessed registered diagnostic imaging resources in Botswana, a high middle-income, sparsely populated African country. Methods: Details of registered diagnostic imaging equipment and personnel were extracted from the Botswana Radiation Protection Inspectorate and the Botswana Health Professions Council databases and stratified by imaging modality, professional category, and by geographical region and healthcare sector. Findings were presented as absolute numbers and resources per million people. Results: Botswana has 130 diagnostic imaging equipment units. General radiography (GR) (n = 79) 60%, mammography (n = 15; 12%), fluoroscopy (n = 13; 10%), computed tomography (n = 13; 10%), magnetic resonance (n = 6; 5%), digital subtraction angiography (n = 3; 2%) and radioisotope (n = 1; 0.7%). General radiography is the only modality where overall public sector resources (n = 44/79, 56%) exceed those of the private sector. Overall GR meet WHO guidelines, while it exceeded WHO guidelines (42–63 units/106 people) in most sparsely populated districts. There are 171 registered radiation workers; 88% (n = 152), radiographers, 9% (n = 15) radiologists and 2% (n = 4) medical physicists. Fifty three per cent of radiographers (n = 80) and 20% of radiologists (n = 3) work in the public sector. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the provision of radiological resources to sparsely populated rural communities. Contribution: The study demonstrates a comprehensive analysis of Radiological resources in an upper-middle-income country in Africa, highlighting important data for medium/long term planning towards achieving an equitable imaging access.https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/87botswanahigh- middle-income countryradiologic resourcessparsely populatedpublic health sectorprivate healthcare sector
spellingShingle Garebue D. Nlashwa
Morrison Sinvula
Setso O. Setso
Wallace Miller
Molatedi Lesiamang
Tashinga Maboreke
Richard D. Pitcher
An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
botswana
high- middle-income country
radiologic resources
sparsely populated
public health sector
private healthcare sector
title An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
title_full An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
title_fullStr An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
title_full_unstemmed An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
title_short An audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in Botswana
title_sort audit of licenced radiological equipment and personnel in botswana
topic botswana
high- middle-income country
radiologic resources
sparsely populated
public health sector
private healthcare sector
url https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/87
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