Turnover Intention and Associated Factors Among Night-Shift Midwives in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Research
• Maternal and Neonatal Health
• Nursing Studies

Background:

• Midwives are essential for maternal and neonatal health globally.
• A significant global shortage of midwives exists, exacerbated by high turnover rates.
• Research on turnover intention among night-shift midwives in China is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of turnover intention among night-shift midwives in China.
• To identify factors associated with turnover intention in this demographic.
• To inform strategies for retaining the midwifery workforce.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1588 night-shift midwives from 493 public hospitals in mainland China (2023).
• Data collected via self-designed questionnaires, Turnover Intention Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
• Multiple linear regression analysis used to determine influencing factors.

Main Results:

• 49.7% of night-shift midwives reported intentions to leave their jobs.
• Lower turnover intention linked to marriage, better health, good sleep quality, and extensive experience (≥15 years).
• Higher job satisfaction and positive shift scheduling reduced turnover intention, while extra work during rest and job burnout increased it.

Conclusions:

• High turnover intention among Chinese night-shift midwives poses a substantial threat to maternal health services.
• Recommendations include optimizing shift scheduling, monitoring burnout and satisfaction, and implementing targeted retention strategies.
• Addressing these factors is crucial for ensuring midwifery workforce sustainability.