A JOURNEY THROUGH RURAL COMMUNITY RADIOGRAPHY PRACTICE IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA: RADIOGRAPHERS’ PERCEPTION, WILLINGNESS AND BARRIERS

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe lack of healthcare professionals and their retention in rural areas has become a serious concern to the health sector globally. Retaining health staff in rural areas has proven difficult as young professionals prefer urban postings. This study aimed to assess radiographers’ perception and willingness to work in rural areas of Rivers State.MethodThis cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among radiographers in Rivers State. The participants’ socio-demographic variables and their responses to willingness and perception to work in rural areas were obtained and analyzed.ResultsOnly few 30% (n=12) of the respondents were willing to work in the rural areas of Rivers state. However, the majority of 95 %(n=38) of the respondents perceived extra payment as an incentive for them to be willing to work in the rural areas of this study location. Most 88 %(n=35) of the respondents perceived unfavorable working conditions in rural areas as a barrier to their willingness. A large proportion of 55 %(n=22) of the respondents stated that their marital status was a barrier to working in rural areas. More than half (85%, n=34) of the respondents perceived poor accommodation as a barrier to working in rural areas. The majority 88% (n=35) of the respondents stated that militant activities was a barrier to their willingness to work in the rural areas of Rivers State. There were statistically significant relationships between the evaluated respondent’s socio-demographic variables gender (χ2 = 48.000, p = 0.000), years of working experience (χ2 = 47.500, p = 0.000), marital status (χ2 = 84.966, p = 0.000) and age (χ2 = 76.758, p = 0.021) and their willingness to work in the rural areas of Rivers State.ConclusionThe key findings suggest that the majority of the Radiographers were not willing to work in the rural areas of Rivers State. The reasons adduced for their strong disinclination were based on their perception of unfavorable working conditions in the rural areas. Nonetheless, they were of the opinion that financial inducement could influence their willingness to work in rural areas.