The Relationship between Burnout and Intention to Leave Work among Midwives: The Long-Lasting Impacts of COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: It is important to evaluate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intention of midwives to leave their jobs. The study examined the relationship between burnout and the intent to leave work among midwives who worked at Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital of Zanjan, one year after the COVID-19 outbreak. METHOD: In a descriptive-analytical study, the intention of 88 midwives to leave their jobs was evaluated, one year after the outbreak of COVID-19 disease in 2021. The midwives were selected using convenience sampling methods. Data were collected using the Maslach burnout questionnaire and the Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression model with the stepwise method at a 95% confidence level. RESULTS: The mean intention to leave the job was 29.71 ± 6.75. Most of the midwives reported a moderate level of intention to leave the job (47.7%). There was a significant positive correlation between the intention to leave the job and all three components of burnout. The stepwise regression analyses indicated that emotional exhaustion (β = 0.344) and working rotational shifts (β = 0.276) were significant predictors of intent to leave the job. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the intention to leave the job of midwives was moderate. Given the relationship between emotional exhaustion and the intent to leave the job, interventions to increase the mental strength and resilience of midwives during the COVID-19 pandemic seem necessary.