Assessment of Quality Control Practices for Conventional X-Ray Equipment at Secondary Hospitals in Borno State, North East Nigeria

Equipment quality control in diagnostic radiology is a regulatory and patient safety requirement that ensures consistent image quality and optimal radiation dose management, yet resource and expertise constraints in North East Nigerian secondary hospitals limit the implementation of systematic quality control programmes. This study assesses the quality control practices for conventional X-ray equipment at secondary hospitals in Borno State. A descriptive cross-sectional design is employed, covering eight secondary hospitals in Maiduguri and surrounding areas selected through stratified purposive sampling. Structured observation checklists and interviews with 42 radiographers document kVp accuracy, mAs linearity, beam collimation, focal spot assessment, and dark room processing quality where applicable, as well as frequency and documentation of quality control tests. Descriptive statistics are computed in SPSS. Available quality control literature from North East Nigerian hospitals identifies absence of preventive maintenance schedules, inoperative kVp meters, and absence of sensitometric monitoring as the most prevalent equipment quality control deficiencies in the region. The IAEA Quality Assurance Programme for Diagnostic Radiology and the IPEM Report 32 equipment testing standards provide the evaluative framework. Findings are expected to reveal minimal systematic quality control practice, with most quality issues identified reactively following patient image quality complaints. Recommendations address a structured equipment quality control programme, training workshops for radiographers in test procedures, and state-level medical physics support for secondary hospitals in Borno State. Keywords: quality control, X-ray equipment, secondary hospitals, Borno State, North East Nigeria.