Sonographers’ Awareness of Chaperone Policy and Impact of Chaperone Use on Transvaginal Sonography in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria

Authors

  • CU Eze University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria
  • E Upeh
  • J Joshua
  • I Anyanwu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54450/saradio.2022.60.2.699

Keywords:

sonography, transvaginal sonography, chaperone use, the impact of chaperone on service delivery

Abstract

Background: Chaperone use during transvaginal sonography (TVS) is strongly recommended. Sonographers’ awareness of this recommendation, their attitude to chaperone use, and the impact of chaperone use on service delivery have not been assessed in Lagos Nigeria. 

Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 100 sonographers. Non-probability convenience sampling was used. Simple proportion, mean and standard deviation were calculated and used to determine awareness and frequency of chaperone use. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between chaperone use and improved service delivery; one-way ANOVA was used to test null hypotheses that said that sex and age had no significant impact on the use of chaperones among sonographers. 

Results: The majority (74%) of the participants were men. Most (69%) of the participants ‘always’ use chaperones. The computed mean and standard deviation (ᶍ = 3.9; σ = 1.7, respectively) showed that ‘sonographer protection’ was rated the most critical role of a chaperone. More than half (57%) of the participants agreed that counselling reduces rejection of TVS. There was significant positive correlation between chaperone use and acceptance of TVS (regression coefficient = 0.9335;
p = 0.0004). ANOVA F-test value of 4.9349 (p = 0.0292) and F-test value = 4.0821; p = 0.0096 indicate that both gender and age positively impact chaperone use. 

Conclusion: Most of the participants in Lagos state were aware of the recommendation that a chaperone should be used. Their attitude to chaperone use during TVS, however, seemed to be somewhat casual. Fear of litigation was the major motivator for chaperone use. A chaperone’s presence during TVS positively impacted service delivery in Lagos state. Counselling is very useful in reducing the number of women who reject TVS. An association exists between sonographers’ gender and chaperone use, older male sonographers in the study tended to use chaperones more often.

Author Biographies

CU Eze, University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria

Lecture, Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and radiography, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

E Upeh

BSc, PhD | Ultrasound Unit, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, UK

J Joshua

BSc, MSc |Department of Radiography, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, 1-5 Taylor Drive, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria

I Anyanwu

BSc, MSc | Glorious Diagnostic Center, Mile 12, Lagos, Nigeria

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Published

2022-12-06

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Section

Original Articles