Well-being of health workers providing maternal and newborn care: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Health workers providing maternal and newborn care can experience burnout and emotional distress, which harms their well-being and, consequently, their ability to deliver respectful care. The World Health Organization (WHO) Compendium on respectful maternal and newborn care identifies health workers’ well-being as a critical area for intervention, but no specific definition or domains of well-being exist for this group. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis to synthesise key domains of well-being for health workers providing maternal and newborn care, by exploring health workers’ perceptions and experiences about their well-being. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL and MIDIRS from 2010 to 20 August 2025 to identify studies reporting health workers’ perceptions and experiences of well-being while providing routine maternal and newborn care in any context. Using maximum variation purposive sampling, we sampled papers for data extraction. Thematic synthesis was employed for analysis, with GRADE-CERQual assessing confidence in findings. A mixed inductive-deductive approach informed the development of well-being domains. Potential implementation strategies to improve well-being were developed using Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF); Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B); and Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). Consultations with health workers validated findings and implementation strategies. We analysed 51 papers from five WHO regions, except the South-East Asia Region, with 61% from high-income and 39% from low-middle-income countries. We identified 18 findings on factors influencing health workers’ well-being. Eight key domains of well-being identified: 1) physical health and access to care and support, 2) emotional and psychological health and access to care and support, 3) fair, safe, and supportive environment, 4) fair and equitable remuneration, 5) adequate housing and a safe community, 6) strong professional identity, 7) positive relationship with women and their families, and 8) work and personal life harmony. The TDF, COM-B, and BCW mapping suggest that interventions should address motivation and external influences.