RADIOGRAPHERS’ WILLINGNESS TO WORK IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS IN NIGERIA: A SURVEY OF FINAL YEAR RADIOGRAPHY STUDENTS

Radiographers are in great demand and inadequate distribution to the rural hospitals and underserved areas affect prompt health service delivery to patients. Patients travel several kilometres from rural and underserved areas in Nigeria to access radiographic services and this affects morbidity and mortality.

The study adopted a cross sectional survey. A total of 124 final year students from Southern Nigeria in Departments of Radiography in two tertiary institutions in Southeast Nigeria participated in the study. A researcher-developed questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire elicited questions on willingness to work in rural and underserved areas based on socio-demographic characteristics, remunerations, security, working conditions, peculiar incentives, extrinsic and intrinsic motivations.