Abstract

Poor compliance with standard radiation protection procedures induces risk to the safety and the health of the population and the medical staff. This study aims to assess compliance with standard radiation protection processes in medical imaging (MI) units in the Atlantique and Littoral departments of Benin in 2019. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, evaluative study led from March to April 2019 in the functional MI divisions of hospitals in the Atlantique and Littoral departments. Imaging technicians or handlers were included for convenience and the managers of medical imaging units by reasoned choice. The compliance with standard radiation protection processes in MI units (main component) was assessed by assigning an overall score resulting from the appreciation of the sub-components (radiation protection means, radiation protection processes, the working environment, and the knowledge of the staff). There were 89 respondents in 18 MI units included in the study. The mean age of the staff was 36.5 ± 9.5 years, with a male domination of 56.34%. Compliance with standard radiation protection processes was low, with an overall score of 41.41%, mainly due to a weakness in the sub-components "Radiation protection means", "Radiation protection processes", "Working environment" and "Handler knowledge", which scores were of 33.01, 44.24 and 11.67%, respectively. Only the sub-component related to technicians was medium, with a score of 60.50%. The implementation of radiation protection measures in the medical imaging units of the Atlantique and Littoral departments in Benin is insufficient. The establishment of a regulatory and nuclear safety authority could help to meet the challenge of radiation protection in Benin's imaging units.

Key words: Evaluation, standard processes, radiation protection, Benin.