TY - JOUR
T1 - Density and regional distribution of radiologists in a low-income country
T2 - the Ghana situation
AU - Sarkodie, Benjamin Dabo
AU - Ohene-Botwe, Benard
AU - Mensah, Yaw B.
AU - Tagoe, Edmund
AU - Jimah, Bashiru Babatunde
AU - Brakohiapa, Edmund Kwakye
AU - Dzefi-Tettey, Klenam
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: This study assessed the density and distribution of radiologists across all 16 regions in Ghana to generate reference information for planning and policy formulation to encourage radiology specialization and in designing systems to improve the dissemination of radiological services across all the regions in Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional design was used to collect secondary data on all radiologists (n = 93) registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDCG) as of December 2022. This information collected on the records of the MDCG was confirmed with records from the Ghana Association of Radiologists. Population and land area data were also collected from the National Statistical Service of Ghana for each region in the country. The Stata statistical software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Results: There were 93 radiologists in the country. The majority were male (n = 60, 65%) and about one-third of the radiologists were female. The national density of radiologists was 1.9 radiologists per 5000 km2. Only 3 of the 16 regions in the country had a better distribution of radiologists per 5000 km2. There were three radiologists per million people in Ghana with a skewed regional distribution. Seven out of the 16 regions lacked radiologists. The proportion of female radiologists stationed within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions was 87.9% (29/33). The Bono, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions had one female radiologist each. Conclusions: Actions are needed to improve the shortage and skewed distribution of radiologists. The outcome will help to improve radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.
AB - Background: This study assessed the density and distribution of radiologists across all 16 regions in Ghana to generate reference information for planning and policy formulation to encourage radiology specialization and in designing systems to improve the dissemination of radiological services across all the regions in Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional design was used to collect secondary data on all radiologists (n = 93) registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDCG) as of December 2022. This information collected on the records of the MDCG was confirmed with records from the Ghana Association of Radiologists. Population and land area data were also collected from the National Statistical Service of Ghana for each region in the country. The Stata statistical software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Results: There were 93 radiologists in the country. The majority were male (n = 60, 65%) and about one-third of the radiologists were female. The national density of radiologists was 1.9 radiologists per 5000 km2. Only 3 of the 16 regions in the country had a better distribution of radiologists per 5000 km2. There were three radiologists per million people in Ghana with a skewed regional distribution. Seven out of the 16 regions lacked radiologists. The proportion of female radiologists stationed within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions was 87.9% (29/33). The Bono, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions had one female radiologist each. Conclusions: Actions are needed to improve the shortage and skewed distribution of radiologists. The outcome will help to improve radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.
KW - Ghana
KW - Imaging
KW - Low-income country
KW - Radiologists
KW - Radiology human resources
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178179890&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s42058-023-00130-z
DO - 10.1007/s42058-023-00130-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85178179890
SN - 2520-8985
VL - 6
SP - 188
EP - 195
JO - Chinese Journal of Academic Radiology
JF - Chinese Journal of Academic Radiology
IS - 4
ER -