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. 2022 Jul 29:6:46.
doi: 10.18332/ejm/150582. eCollection 2022.

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

Nicolas Paul  1 , Marcus Limprecht-Heusner  1 , Jutta Eichenauer  2 , Christel Scheichenbauer  2 , Till Bärnighausen  1 , Stefan Kohler  1   3
Affiliations

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

Nicolas Paul et al. Eur J Midwifery. .

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.

Keywords: Germany; burnout; job resignation; mental health; midwives; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have each completed and submitted ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. S. Kohler and T. Bärnighausen report to have received funds from the Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit und Integration Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration) to conduct research for the Runder Tisch Geburtshilfe in Baden-Württemberg. J. Eichenauer and C. Scheichenbauer report to be chairs of the Hebammenverband Baden-Württemberg (Midwifery Association Baden-Württemberg).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Levels of burnout among midwives in a survey of midwives in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 2017 (N=602)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Burnout dimensions of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and their relationship to midwives’ age, work model, and attitudes toward midwifery in a survey of midwives in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, 2017 (N=602)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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