Concerns about exposure to radiation are often seen as a constraint, especially among young women and pregnant women who are forced to leave their jobs exposing to radiation. The objective of our study was to evaluate in a group of female doctors and nurses working in cardiac catheterization units their knowledge on radiation exposure and the perception of the radiological risk on pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy on the professional career.

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out at the cardiology departments in Tunisia which involved the female workers exposed to X-ray the cardiac catheterization unit (CCU). We used a questionnaire referring to data from the literature.

The study population consisted of 30 female workers working in the cardiac catheterization unit in Tunisia. The mean age was 34±5 years. The average of the overall knowledge scores was 10.74±2.9. We found a significant difference in the level of knowledge according to the grade and the duration of the experience of work in the (CCU). The main fear reported by workers was the risk of infertility in 76% of cases, cancer in 61.5% of cases, thyroid involvement in 53.8% of cases. A total of 92.5% of female respondents consider that a pregnant woman should stop working in the CCU. All workers who had been pregnant while working in the CCU stopped working during pregnancy. Risks of radiation to the fetus reported were malformations in 100% of cases and the risk of abortion in 76%. 23% of women workers reported that pregnancy or pregnancy projects have affected their professional career.

In summary, female workers in CCU are not adequately trained in radioprotection. This lack of knowledge about radiological risk can affect the evolution of professional careers. Radioprotection training and awareness deserves to be reinforced by focusing on these shortcomings and involving more participants to collaborate in radioprotection.