Assessment of Radiation Safety Practices Among Medical Imaging Personnel in Federal Teaching Hospitals in North East and North Central Nigeria

Radiation safety is an occupational health priority for radiology and radiography personnel in Nigerian teaching hospitals, where equipment calibration, dosimeter use, and protective lead shielding compliance are inconsistently maintained. This study assesses radiation safety knowledge, practices, and occupational exposure monitoring among medical imaging personnel at four federal teaching hospitals in North East and North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design is applied to 220 radiographers, radiologists, and medical physicists at four institutions in Maiduguri, Bauchi, Abuja, and Jos. A structured questionnaire assesses radiation safety knowledge, personal dosimeter usage rates, lead apron and thyroid shield use, compliance with controlled area access restrictions, and awareness of annual exposure dose limits. Dosimetry records are reviewed where available. SPSS is used for analysis, with chi-square tests examining knowledge-practice concordance. Available radiation safety literature from Nigerian federal hospitals identifies non-use of personal dosimeters, irregular calibration of X-ray equipment, and limited radiation protection continuing education as the most prevalent safety gaps. The IAEA Basic Safety Standards and the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority radiation protection guidelines provide the normative reference. Findings will support the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority in designing targeted compliance audits and structured continuing education programmes. Keywords: radiation safety, medical imaging, occupational exposure, dosimetry, North Central and North East Nigeria.