Diagnostic Reference Levels, Protection of Patients and the Environment against Harmful Effects of X-Rays: Practice of Pediatric Radiology in Six General Reference Hospitals of the Kongo Central Province, DRC

The purpose of this research was to evaluate radiological safety in pediatric radiology in hospitals in the Kongo Central province of the DRC. To this end, we surveyed a convenience sample of 50 health professionals, including 10 radiologists working in the hospitals covered by the survey, to assess the practice of pediatric radiology and the degree of compliance with radiation protection principles for the safety of children and the environment. We collected radiophysical parameters to calculate entrance doses in pediatric radiology in radiology departments to determine the dosimetric level by comparison with the diagnostic reference levels of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). All in all, we found that in Kongo Central in the DRC, many health personnel surveyed reported that more than 30% of requested radiological examinations are not justified. Also, after comparing the entrance doses produced in the surveyed departments with those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), a statistically significant difference was found in pediatric radiology between the average doses in five out of six surveyed departments and those of the ICRP. Therefore, almost all of the surveyed departments were found to be highly irradiating in children, while excessive X-ray irradiation in children can have significant effects due to their increased sensitivity to radiation. Among the risks are: increased cancer risks, damage to developing cells, potential genetic effects, and neurological effects. This is why support for implementing radiation protection principles is a necessity to promote the safety of patients and the environment against the harmful effects of X-rays in conventional radiology.