Evaluation of Radiography Workforce Distribution and Staffing Adequacy in Secondary Hospitals in Niger State, North Central Nigeria

Radiography workforce distribution across health facility tiers significantly determines the equity of diagnostic imaging access in Nigerian states, and secondary hospitals in North Central states such as Niger face persistent radiographer staffing shortages that undermine imaging service quality and availability. This study evaluates the distribution of radiography workforce and assesses staffing adequacy at secondary hospitals in Niger State. A census-based descriptive study is conducted, documenting the number and qualification status of radiographers and radiography technologists in all 24 secondary hospitals in Niger State through structured data collection from hospital records and state health ministry databases. Staffing levels are compared against the Federal Ministry of Health radiographer-to-bed ratio standards and the WHO recommended radiographer staffing benchmarks. Descriptive statistics and gap analysis computations are performed using SPSS. Available health workforce literature from North Central Nigeria identifies radiographer vacancy rates above 30 percent in secondary hospitals as typical, driven by a combination of under-recruitment, rural posting avoidance, and high attrition to private and international practice. The WHO Health Workforce National Strategies framework and the NRBN minimum staffing guidelines provide the benchmarking reference. Findings are expected to reveal wide geographic disparities in radiographer distribution, with rural secondary hospitals being most severely understaffed. Recommendations address targeted radiographer posting incentives for rural secondary hospitals, deployment of radiography technicians as an intermediate cadre, and state-level radiography workforce strategic planning in Niger State. Keywords: radiography workforce, staffing adequacy, secondary hospitals, Niger State, North Central Nigeria.