Assessment of occupational hazards in midwifery setting and impact of occupational stress and job satisfaction on midwives' quality of work-life: multicenter study in IRAN.

Abstract

Background: Midwifery is one of the key professions in maintaining community health and is important in providing maternal and child healthcare. As a high-risk profession, it involves numerous occupational hazards and challenges that can affect the quality of work life. This study investigated the occupational hazards and factors related to midwives' quality of work life.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 in Iran, involving midwives working in hospitals (teaching and non-teaching) and health centers. Sampling was done in multiple stages in two large cities, Tabriz and Ahvaz. All midwifery staff meeting the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Data were collected using demographic and social information, occupational stress, work-related quality of life, Minnesota job satisfaction, and occupational hazards questionnaires. The analysis was performed using an independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression test by SPSS version 24. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Finally, the information of 580 participants was analyzed. The mean (± SD) age was 39.21 (± 9.09), with 83% of participants holding a bachelor's degree in midwifery, and the majority were hospital employees. The mean (± SD) occupational hazard score was 3.76 (± 0.87), with ergonomic and biological hazards having the highest mean scores, 4.22 and 4.10, respectively, making them the most significant occupational hazards. The preliminary results showed that the mean scores for job stress, job satisfaction, and quality of work life were 232.35 (high), 41.09 (moderate), and 95.34, respectively. In the regression model, job satisfaction, age, and work experience were significantly associated with quality of work life, with job satisfaction having the strongest influence (β = 0.376, P < 0.0013). As job satisfaction increased, the quality of work life also improved. However, work experience had a negative impact, indicating that as work experience increased, the quality of work life decreased (β=-0.296, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Regular assessment of working conditions and the quality of work life is essential, and special attention should be paid to reducing occupational hazards. Given the high levels of job stress and dissatisfaction, there is a need for planning and policy-making to provide psychological support to manage stress, increase professional support, optimize the work environment, and manage physical demands.