Background: Regular implementation of a quality control (QC) programme in diagnostic radiology is vital if consistent optimal equipment performance, quality images, and accurate diagnosis at optimum radiation dose and costs are to be achieved. This highlighted the necessity for the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) to establish a training programme to enable radiographers to implement a QC programme in their departments because there are no clinical medical physicists in diagnostic radiology in the country. However, the status of programme implementation is not precisely known.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the status of implementation of the QC measures as performed by radiographers in diagnostic radiography departments in Tanzania.Method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey, using a questionnaire, was conducted on a sample of 84 radiographers who had been trained in the QC programme and who were practising in 54 hospitals within Tanzania.Results: A large number of respondents were not implementing the following QC tests: tube output, kV, mAs and timer (94%), collimation (53.5%), and densitometry and sensitometry (87.7%). The tests for film viewing box and lead rubber protective apparel were not implemented by 64.2% and 59% of the respondents, respectively. The cassette inspection and darkroom inspection were reported as being implemented by most respondents, although the testing was not observing the recommended schedule. Furthermore, the departments had no records and procedures for the QC programme, and only the locally improvized QC test tools were reported to be available. Conclusion:The QC training objectives of TAEC have not been largely achieved because radiographers are not adequately implementing the QC programme. Without the QC programme in place, equipment malfunctioning will not be revealed at an early stage, and this can cause poor image quality and/or higher dose to patients. Therefore, active involvement of the TAEC, the ministry of health, hospital management teams, and radiographers is desirable to achieve full implementation of the programme.

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The aim of this study was to determine the radiation doses to paediatric patients of different age groups at three large hospitals for optimisation purposes. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) values were determined from the measured X-ray output values using calibrated ionisation chamber, TW 233612 and clinical patient parameters. The air kerma-area product (KAP) values were measured using a calibrated Diamentor E2 system. The volume computed tomography dose index (CTDI vol ) and dose length product (DLP) values were obtained from the computed tomography (CT) equipment verified by a calibrated CT chamber, Unifors Xi CT. Irrespective of age groups, the results show that the median ESAK values ranged from 62.6 to 248.1 mGy. The median KAP values ranged from 135.6 to 1612 mGy cm 2 , while the median DLP values ranged from 119.1 to 600 mGy cm. Analysis of the results indicates that optimisation can be achieved through good practice awareness and patient dose and image quality evaluations.

The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the occupational radiation exposure data from 2011 to 2017 and to compare the results with status in 1996–2010 periods. The evaluation was performed in terms of annual collective effective dose, the average annual effective dose, the individual dose distribution ratio and the annual collective effective dose distribution ratio. Irrespective of work category, the results indicate that the average effective dose ranged from 0.64 to 1.55 mSv and broadly comparable to data in the previous analysis. Over seven year period, the maximum annual individual dose was 4 mSv and therefore below the dose limit of 20 mSv y−1. The impact of radiological practice on the exposed population was <1.1 person.Sv. The results demonstrate satisfactory radiation protection conditions at workplaces, a situation which is mainly explained by the existing effective regulatory enforcement and improved workers’ awareness.