Occupational stress experienced by Japanese midwives

Studies have shown that half of Japanese midwives experience depression (Akizuki and Fujimura, 2006), but the stress experienced by them is not well understood. This study examines job stress among midwives in hospitals and clinics in the Tokyo area. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) was distributed to 1397 midwives at 90 facilities. Responses were received from 606, and the valid responses of 556 respondents were analysed. The results showed that 442 midwives (79.5%) experienced a qualitative burden, 513 (92.3%) experienced a physical burden, and 25–35% reported high stress reactions. Progress is needed in the identification of tasks that contribute to qualitative job overload. A survey is needed to determine the specific workload that will lead to a reduction of midwives’ stress and an improvement of their workplace environment.