Comparison of occupational stress and its relation with some personal/occupational characteristics of midwives of delivery rooms with midwives of maternal and pediatric health centers

Abstract

Introduction: One of the environmental stressful stimulators for human is the kind of job and work situations. Most people think that professional stress is a negative factor, but working with appropriate stress can increase innovation and workability. The aim of this research was to determine and to compare occupational stress and to define its relation with some personal and occupational characteristics of midwives of delivery rooms and midwives of maternal and pediatric health centers.

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytic correlation research. Data were collected from two groups and in one stage design. The samples included 93 midwives of delivery rooms and 75 midwives of health centers. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was proved with content and surface validity and the reliability of the questionnaire was checked with alfa Cronbach coefficient. Descriptive and analytic statistical methods were used for data analysis.

Results: The results showed a significant difference between occupational stress in both groups (delivery room midwives and health centers midwives). There was no significant relation between age, marital status, level of education with occupational stress, but there was a significant relation between number of children, satisfaction, economic condition, personality type with occupational stress. There was a significant relation between job satisfaction, education, health services and occupational stress. But, there was not any significant relation between occupational stress with other professional factors.

Conclusion: According to the results, change of midwives in delivery rooms with midwives in health centers each 5 years is recommended.