Towards equity: a retrospective analysis of public sector radiological resources and utilization patterns in the metropolitan and rural areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa in 2017

• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06997-x
• Publication Date: 2021-09-20T13:07:47Z
• Authors: Beulah Christina ...; Michelle Monique ...; Keith Cloete; Amanda Fernandez; Matodzi Mukosi; Richard Denys Pit...
• Keywords: Equity

Abstract Background The reduction of inequality is a key United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (WHO, Human Resources for Health: foundation Universal Health Coverage and the post-2015 development agenda, 2014; Transforming our world: Agenda .:. Knowledge Platform, 2020). Despite marked disparities in radiological services globally, particularly between metropolitan rural populations low- middle-income countries, there has been little work on imaging resources utilization patterns any setting (Transforming 2020; WHO, Local Production Technology Transfer to Increase Access Medical Devices, 2019; European Society Radiology (ESR), Insights Imaging 6:573-7, 2015; Maboreke et al., An audit licensed Zimbabwean radiology equipment as measure healthcare access equity, Kabongo Pan Afr Med J 22, Skedgel Decis Making 35:94-105, Mollura Am Coll Radiol 913-9, Culp 12:475-80, Mbewe licenced Zambian diagnostic personnel, To achieve better understanding integral components so called “imaging enterprise” important. aim was analyse provincial service country. Methods institutional review board-approved retrospective data public sector Western Cape Province South Africa 2017, utilizing databases. We conducted population-based analyses equipment, whole province, areas. Results Metropolitan population density exceeds by factor ninety (1682 vs 19 people/km 2 ). Rural facilities are double (20 11/10 6 people). personnel (112 53/10 people) unit (1.7 0.7/unit) more than rural. Overall 30% higher metropole (289 214 studies/10 3 people), with mammography (24 5 woman > 40 years) CT (21 6/10 recording highest, plain radiography (203 171/10 lowest differences. Conclusion attempts equity through provision increased facilities/million people areas, differential persist. achievement must be seen process involving incremental improvements iterative that define progress towards goal.