Mkhize Nokulunga, Tiwari Ritika, Chikte Usuf, Pitcher Richard
Division of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, ZAF.
Department of Radiology, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, ZAF.
Cureus. 2022 Jul 22;14(7):e27148. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27148. eCollection 2022 Jul.
Background To facilitate imaging resource planning and address key health targets of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, accurate data are required on imaging personnel at the country level. Such data are currently limited. Objectives This study aims to analyze trends in the number, geographical distribution, and demographics of South African (SA) diagnostic imaging personnel between 2002 and 2019. Method A retrospective analysis of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) database of imaging personnel from 2002 to 2019 was done. The total number of personnel and personnel per million people were calculated for the country and for each professional group (radiologist, diagnostic radiographer, and sonographer) by calendar year, province, and demographic profile. Population data were provided by Statistics SA. Results The total imaging personnel, number per million people, and national population increased by 283% (3,095 versus 8,753), 119% (68 versus 149/10), and 29% (45.45 versus 58.77/10), respectively. Diagnostic radiographers constituted more than 80% of the workforce throughout the review period, increasing by 185% (2,540 versus 7,242). Sonographers, the smallest cohort, recorded the highest (49 versus 503; 906%) and radiologists (506 versus 1,007; 99%) the lowest proportional growth. Although radiologists showed persistent male predominance, the male proportion decreased from 82% to 69%, while that of females increased from 18% to 31%. The average annual percentage increase in female radiologists (14%) was more than three times that of males (4%). Diagnostic radiographers showed female predominance, but the proportion decreased from 90% to 83%, while that of males increased from 10% to 17%. Sonographers showed overwhelming female predominance (94% versus 92%). The average annual percentage increase in male diagnostic radiographers (21%) was more than double that of females (9%). In 2002, 48% (n = 1,475) of imaging personnel identified as White, and 15% (n = 467) identified as Black African. By 2019, those identifying as White and Black African were 36% (n = 3,122) and 35% (n = 3,045), respectively. The Western Cape Province (WCP) maintained the highest overall number of imaging personnel per million people (165 versus 233/10) and Limpopo the lowest (12 versus 54/10). However, Limpopo recorded the highest proportional growth in imaging personnel/10 people (368%) and the WCP the lowest (41%). The differential between the best- and least-resourced provinces thus decreased from 14:1 in 2002 to 4:1 in 2019. Conclusion In the review period, the SA imaging workforce has shown substantial expansion and transformation and has assumed a more equitable distribution.
背景 为了促进影像资源规划并实现联合国（UN）2030年可持续发展目标的关键健康指标，需要有关国家层面影像专业人员的准确数据。目前此类数据有限。目的 本研究旨在分析2002年至2019年间南非（SA）诊断影像专业人员的数量、地理分布和人口统计学趋势。方法 对南非卫生专业人员委员会（HPCSA）2002年至2019年的影像专业人员数据库进行回顾性分析。按日历年、省份和人口概况计算该国及每个专业组（放射科医生、诊断放射技师和超声检查技师）的人员总数及每百万人中的人员数。人口数据由南非统计局提供。结果 影像专业人员总数、每百万人中的人数及全国人口分别增长了283%（从3095人增至8753人）、119%（从68人增至149/10人）和29%（从45.45人增至58.77/10人）。在整个研究期间，诊断放射技师占劳动力的比例超过80%，增长了185%（从2540人增至7242人）。超声检查技师这一人数最少的群体增长比例最高（从49人增至503人；增长906%），而放射科医生增长比例最低（从506人增至1007人；增长99%）。尽管放射科医生中男性一直占主导，但男性比例从82%降至69%，而女性比例从18%增至31%。女性放射科医生的年均增长率（14%）是男性（4%）的三倍多。诊断放射技师中女性占主导，但该比例从90%降至83%，而男性比例从10%增至17%。超声检查技师中女性占绝对主导（从94%降至92%）。男性诊断放射技师的年均增长率（21%）是女性（9%）的两倍多。2002年，48%（n = 1475）的影像专业人员为白人，15%（n = 467）为非洲黑人。到2019年，白人及非洲黑人的占比分别为36%（n = 3122）和35%（n = 3045）。西开普省（WCP）每百万人中的影像专业人员总数一直最高（从165人增至233/10人），林波波省最低（从12人增至54/10人）。然而，林波波省每10人中影像专业人员的增长比例最高（368%），西开普省最低（41%）。资源最丰富和最匮乏省份之间的差距因此从2002年的14:1降至2019年的4:1。结论 在研究期间，南非的影像专业劳动力规模大幅扩大且结构发生转变，分布也更加均衡。
