Burnout among midwives and attitudes toward midwifery: A cross-sectional study from Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Midwifery services are a cornerstone of maternal care, but the mental health of midwives is at risk in many work settings. The aim of this study was to assess burnout and attitudes toward midwifery among midwives in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey among midwives was conducted from 16 October to 10 December 2017. Burnout was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). RESULTS A total of 602 survey respondents were studied; 48.3%, 38.2%, and 23.3% of midwives reported moderate or high (CBI score ≥50) levels of personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout, respectively. Midwives with moderate or high burnout in at least one CBI dimension worked more weekly hours, were more commonly employed, and worked more frequently in the hospital. In turn, midwives with low burnout levels worked fewer weekly hours, more commonly freelance, and more frequently community based (all p<0.001). Moderate or high burnout levels were associated with a reduced likelihood to recommend midwifery as a profession (OR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.23–0.49) and an increased likelihood to intent leaving the profession (OR=3.39; 95% CI: 2.0–5.9) in a multivariable regression adjusting for midwife characteristics and work practices. CONCLUSIONS Burnout symptoms were common among midwives. Burnout could be a health risk for midwives and a challenge to the profession by discouraging present and future midwives from practicing midwifery.

Silent Tears of Midwives: ‘I Want Every Mother Who Gives Birth to Have Her Baby Alive’—A Narrative Inquiry of Midwives Experiences of Very Early Neonatal Death from Tanzania

“…Other studies have indicated that the impact of neonatal death is burnout, which is severe enough for midwives to consider leaving the profession [ 14 , 40 ]. The results of this research project suggest that midwives cope more effectively with burnout when they seek social, spiritual, familial or collegial support [ 36 ], a claim that resonated with many midwives in this study, as they sought solace by relying on prayer, family and peers [ 15 ].…”

“…Multiple factors can be considered when a midwife experiences the death of a newborn, including the need to counsel the grieving mother, the midwife’s own grief, compassion fatigue, posttraumatic stress, and other influences on the midwives’ psychological well-being, burnout, along with the subsequent impact of this phenomenon on the midwife’s psychological well-being [ 13 , 14 ]. Midwives in sub-Saharan Africa rarely have the time to grieve due to the almost continuous overwhelming patient workloads [ 15 ].…”

High prevalence of burnout among midwives in Hungary: High job demands and low resources as potential persistent stressors, a focus on prevention

“…Evidence suggests that midwifery work is emotionally straining and is characterized by high levels of occupational stress due to high workload, limited job resources, and workplace support [ 7 , 12 ]. As a consequence, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests a high degree of burnout among midwives in various countries [ [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Burnout among midwives is considered to have a significant adverse impact on individual and public health as it can negatively affect their ability to provide high-quality, compassionate care, potentially leading to medical errors, misjudgments, high turnover at work, and a decrease in patient satisfaction [ 15 ].…”

Gesundheit und berufliche Zufriedenheit von freiberuflichen und angestellten Hebammen: Ergebnisse einer Hebammenbefragung in Baden-Württemberg

“…Gesundheitliche Belastungen könnten sowohl Folge als auch Ursache eines Hebammenmangels sein. In Umfragen vor der COVID-19-Pandemie berichteten freiberufliche sowie angestellte Hebammen in Deutschland regelmäßig über eine hohe Arbeitsbelastung und damit verbundene Überlegungen, aus dem Beruf auszusteigen 3 7 9 17 . In Studien aus anderen Ländern, beispielsweise Australien, Kanada, Norwegen, Schweden oder dem Vereinigten Königreich, wiesen Hebammen häufig Burnout-Symptome auf 18 19 20 .…”

“…Die stärkste mittlere Zufriedenheit bestand mit dem Beruf als Hebamme(1,23 [SD 1,17]), der täglichen Arbeit als Hebamme (0,93 [SD 1,03]) und der Zusammenarbeit mit nicht-ärztlichen Kolleginnen und Kollegen (0,92 [SD 1,12]). Die stärkste mittlere Unzufriedenheit bestand mit der Bezahlung als Hebamme (−1,26[SD 1,21]).…”