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Abstract

Introduction
African countries face a critical challenge as radiography professionals and other healthcare workers migrate to high-income countries with better-resourced health systems. This study sought to identify the factors influencing the migration of qualified radiography professionals and evaluate the challenges and strategies for retaining the radiography workforce across the continent.

Methods
This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire. The link to the questionnaire was widely advertised through professional body platforms, as well as the professional and social media pages of radiography professionals across Africa. Descriptive, inferential statistics and exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis were used to examine the data.

Results
A total of 755 radiography professionals from 17 African countries participated. Poor salary was the most commonly cited push factor for migration, reported by 80.00 % of participants. In the exploratory factor analysis, five factors were identified, explaining 55.57 % of the variation in the data on push factors for migration among radiography professionals. These factors include the health system, economic concerns, professional challenges, political issues, and social conditions. Better salaries (86.49 %) and improved living conditions (86.35 %) were the most common pull factors. Additionally, 92.00 % of participants identified improving radiography professionals' salaries as the most effective strategy for reducing migration.

Conclusion
Low salaries, inadequate working conditions, and the pursuit of better opportunities abroad are key contributors to the migration of radiography professionals from Africa. To address this issue, African healthcare systems must prioritise improving remuneration, enhancing working conditions, investing in health infrastructure, and implementing targeted policies focused on professional development and career growth.

Implication for practice
Retaining radiography professionals in Africa requires a multifaceted approach to strengthen the workforce and improve healthcare systems.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The College of Radiographers. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/CC-BY-NC-ND/4.0)
Publisher Keywords:	Workforce retention, Radiography professionals' migration, Health workforce crisis, Africa, Healthcare infrastructure, Migration factors
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DT Africa H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor R Medicine > RT Nursing
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Midwifery & Radiography
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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