The emotional wellbeing of New Zealand midwives: Comparing responses for midwives in caseloading and shift work settings

Background: Ensuring the psychological wellbeing of midwives is becoming increasingly recognised as an important strategy in maintaining a healthy workforce and retaining midwives within the profession. Midwives in New Zealand can choose to be self-employed and work in the community, providing continuity of care to a caseload of women (self-employed caseloading), or can be employed to work within a maternity hospital environment (generally shift work). Some choose to work in both work settings (self-employed and employed by an organisation).