What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to describe the prevalence of burnout among midwives and examine associated factors in Victoria, Australia.

June 19, 2026Open Access

“Occupational stressors, personal and work characteristics, and their association with burnout in midwives: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Victoria, Australia”

Key Points

This study aims to describe the prevalence of burnout among midwives and examine associated factors in Victoria, Australia.
Conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of midwives in Victoria between March and October 2021.
Utilized the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) to assess personal, work-related, and client-related burnout.
Employed univariate and multivariable logistic regression to analyze associations with burnout and occupational stressors.
72% of midwives reported personal burnout, 67% experienced work-related burnout, and 19% had client-related burnout.
Strong associations were found between burnout and factors such as inadequate acknowledgment (personal AOR 2.57, work AOR 2.35, client AOR 1.80) and lack of job satisfaction (personal AOR 2.87, work AOR 4.60, client AOR 2.76).
Midwives working part-time or rotating through multiple areas of maternity care reported a higher likelihood of experiencing work-related burnout.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A high rate of attrition is a key contributor to the current midwifery workforce crisis. Burnout is linked to high attrition, and aspects of midwifery work and the midwifery profession contribute to high rates of burnout. AIM: To describe the prevalence of burnout and associated factors in a sample of midwives in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: An online, cross-sectional survey of midwives working in Victoria was conducted between March and October 2021. We explored burnout using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), which includes three domains: personal, work-related and client-related burnout. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression explored associations between each of the burnout domains and respondents' characteristics and occupational stressors. FINDINGS: A total of 1017/5185 (19.6%) midwives participated in the FUCHSIA survey. Seventy-two percent of midwives scored as having personal, 67% work-related and 19% client-related burnout. Across three domains, inadequate acknowledgement (personal AOR 2.57; 95% CI 1.72, 3.84, work AOR 2.35; 95% CI 1.56, 3.54 client AOR 1.80: 95% CI 1.06, 3.06), lack of job satisfaction (personal AOR 2.87; 95% CI 1.70, 4.85, work AOR 4.60; 95% CI 2.62, 8.08, client AOR 2.76; 95% CI 1.83, 4.17) and considering skill mix to be unsafe (personal AOR 2.57; 95% CI 1.69, 3.87, work AOR 2.53; 95% CI 1.63, 3.92, client AOR 1.77; 95% CI 1.00, 3.12) were associated with a higher level of burnout. Those who worked in large services, part-time or casually, who rotated through more than one area of maternity care, were unable to take adequate breaks, and needed more support were more likely to experience work-related burnout CONCLUSION: The prevalence of burnout in this sample of Victorian midwives was high, with at least two-thirds of the sample experiencing personal and work-related burnout. Strategies to address factors such as providing adequate acknowledgement, support, and job satisfaction and providing a safe and flexible work environment may be key to addressing burnout for midwives.

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