Collective radiation dose from diagnostic x-ray examination in nine public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Medical x-ray exposures have the largest man made source of population exposure to ionizing radiation in different countries. Recent developments in medical imaging have led to rapid increases in a number of high dose xray examinations performed with significant consequences for individual patient doses and for collective dose to the population as a whole. It is therefore important in each country to make regular assessments of the magnitude of these large doses. Objectives: To calculate collective dose of the population as a result of radiation dose from diagnostic x-rays, thereby to estimate the annual incidence of cancer which would be reduced by the use of rare earth intensifying screen. Methods: Data on the number of diagnostic procedures using x-ray examination in year 2007 in nine governmental hospitals, excluding military hospitals, by body site were collected in Addis Ababa. The number of examinations of specific body site was multiplied by the average effective dose per examination to get the collective dose over the population. Based on International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) the fatality risk of fatal cancers (5% per Sv) was estimated. Results: In this study, the annual collective dose over the population is 31.21manSv (0.0.42mSv per person). Based on ICRP fatality risk of 500 fatal cancers per 10,000 man-sieverts (5% per Sv), estimation of incidence of fatal cancers cases in year 2007 was 2 cases half of which can be reduced by adoption of rare earth screens. Conclusion: Although the use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic medical procedures is an acceptable part of modern medicine, there is also the potential for inappropriate use and unnecessary radiation dose to the patient, so the request of radiography must be justified. It is estimated that the adoption of rare earth screen technology might reduce the annual incidence of cancer which would be fatal after an average latency period of 18.4 years by half, hence this research recommended adopting rare earth screen technology in Ethiopia. [Ethiop.

Utilization of Environmental Health Services of Urban Health Extension Program and Associated Factors in Debretabor Town, North West Ethiopia: Cross Sectional Study

“…Birr per month, currently married, those who attended any level of education, and hose holds graduated as model family were almost twice more likely to practice proper liquid waste management than their counter parts: AOR= 1.82 , 95% CI=1. 13…”

“…The HEP was designed and implemented in recognition of the fact that the major factor underlying the poor health status of the country's population is the lack of empowerment of households and communities to promote health and prevent disease. The government of Ethiopia recognized that the delivery of public health information and services in urban settings to be less than optimal and has been working to develop an Urban Health Extension Package building on the success of the rural HEP and HEWs are working at the kebele level to promote safe excreta disposal system in households (HH) [13,14].…”