Knowledge and Attitude of Togolese Radiographers on Medical Irradiation of Pregnant Women

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate the knowledge and the attitude of the Togolese radiographers on the medical irradiation of pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in April, 2011 about 72 radiographers of the public and private hospitals in Togo. Results: The quarter of the radiographers thought that the MRI is an irradiant examination and 44.5% of them did not know that the scintigraphy uses ionizing radiations. There were 77.7% to consider that the pregnancy is not an absolved contraindication for any irradiant medical imaging modality. They thought in 88.8% of the cases that radiography must be realized only in the first ten days of the menstrual cycle of women old enough to procreate. The majority of the radiographers (72.3%) did not ask the date of last menstruation of the women before undergoing the examination. None recorded the exposure parameters used for the irradiation of the pelvis in young women. The great majority of the radiographers (86.1%) did not wear lead aprons for the pregnant women during the examinations and 83.3% of them have already refused to realize an unjustified radiography to the pregnant women. Globally, the erroneous knowledge on the biological effects of ionizing radiations and on radiation protection rules of the pregnant woman, were more counted with radiographers having more than 10 years of work experience. Conclusion: It is concluded that the Togolese should take special attention to standard for women exposed to ionizing radiation. In-service training in radiation protection of the patients should be encouraged in Togo.