Stress has a special relationship within each individual, in which a person considers it as a threat and it demandes more than their current abilities and resources and thus endangers the comfort and convenience of the individual. Occupational stress is one of the common types of stress that can affect employees (1). Health care providers, due to their professional nature, are more likely to be exposed to stress than other employees (2). Occupational stress is one of the important causes of absenteeism, early retirement, and reduced working years of health workers (3). The World Health Organization has identified job stress as a major concern around the world (4). Occupational stress can be associated with multiple psychological (anxiety, depression, fatigue, irritability, aggression, impulsive behavior, overeating, inability to make decisions, poor focus, and low attention) (5, 6), physical (migraine, tachycardia, hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary and digestive disorders) (7) or organizational problems (low production, conflicts with colleagues, job dissatisfaction, reduced commitment to the organization, and low quality of work) (8). All of these complications are non-specific responses that the body exhibits against the unmet needs that it encounters (9).
Midwifery is a stressful profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (10). Midwives' mental health and well-being have an impact on the provision of health services to mothers and infants (11). Various studies have shown that workload, inadequate work resources, shift work, conflicts with co-workers and physicians, and meeting the high expectations of patients and their families are factors that can impose stress on midwives (7, 12–14).
Managerial and organizational issues, interpersonal relationships, lack of support, responsibility for the health and death of their mother and baby, lack of equipment, exposure to unexpected situations, high noise at work, job rotation, and heavy workload are all causes of stress in this profession (3). Pine also believed that environmental issues such as exposure to blood and blood-borne pathogens could lead to considerable stress among midwives (15). Macclin also cites crisis situations during childbirth, endangering the lives of mothers and children, and legal issues related to it, as the most important stressors in the midwifery profession (16). According to Triolo et al. (1989), legal and managerial problems are the most important stressors in this profession (17). Namadi Vasoughi et al. (2008) believe that inadequate education and lack of support for midwives in the workplace cause occupational stress in them (18). The consequences of occupational stress will lead to a disruption in mental health and reduction in the quality of health services (19). In recent decades, across the globe, including Iran, the number of employed women has increased. Their personality structure is different and in the face of stress is more vulnerable. They play a significant role in family affairs and mental stress in the workplace can lead to the development of family and social disorders (20).
In Iran, various studies have examined the prevalence of occupational stress in midwives that have reported different prevalence. Considering the different results of the studies conducted in this field, this study evaluates and estimates the prevalence of occupational stress in Iranian midwives.