Midwives in Victoria, Australia: a survey of current issues and job satisfaction

To describe demographic and work profiles of registered practising midwives, to assess their job satisfaction and their knowledge of and attitudes to the 1990 Victorian Birthing Services review.

A questionnaire posted in 1995 to a population-based random sample of registered midwives.

Two hundred and forty midwives currently using their midwifery skills in their work.

One thousand names and addresses were randomly selected from a database of midwives registered to practise in Victoria, Australia in 1993.

There was a 72% response rate to the postal questionnaire. Two hundred and forty practising midwives returned completed questionnaires. Seventy-three per cent were in full time employment, 49% lived in rural Victoria, 80% were born in Australia, more than half were aged 40 or more years and 72% had at least one child. Twenty-six per cent worked in postnatal wards, 9% in each the labour ward and the neonatal nursery, 2% in birthing centres and 12% in out of hospital settings. Eighty per cent were satisfied with their work and interactions with women were the most important aspect. Satisfaction was associated with working in a labour ward, feeling adequately prepared by midwifery education and training, nursing for more than 15 years and having continuing education. Neonatal and rotating positions were significantly associated with dissatisfaction. Less than one-half of the midwives had read some of the Birthing Services Review, and of these only one-half had changed their attitudes or practice. One-third knew little of the imminent changes to the Midwifery Regulations.

Although most midwives enjoyed their work there was little evidence of increasing autonomy or involvement in change.