Introduction. Professional health threats to midwives, both biological and psycho-social, are a serious and vastly underestimated medical
and social issue and not eliminated in the course of time may lead to health loss.

The aim of the study. Identify the psycho-social factors occurring within the working environment of midwives and the assessment of their
influence on the midwives’ health.

Material and methods. Research were conducted among 300 randomly selected midwives working within the out-patient health care and
hospital health care in the Podlassia Voivodship. Research utilized the Work Quality Assessment questionnaire and the General Health
Questionnaire (GHQ28).

Results. The psychological factors of professional risk for midwives were burnout (62%), aggression (40%), excessive amount of professional
duties (38%). More than a half of the subjects have heard threats from their patients. According to the questioned group 89% of midwives
are subjected to stress in the workplace.

Conclusions. As a result of conducted research it has been proven that midwives suffer from the burnout syndrome, resulting from various
factors. The results of night and shift work are tiredness, sleeping disorders and social behaviour disorders. Stress has a great influence on the
midwives’ work, as well as on their biological functioning. Midwives are also subjected to aggression from patients and patient families.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (3): 303–306