Stress-coping styles of midwives providing maternity care to Ukrainian migrant women in Poland after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

PROBLEM

The type of the stress-coping styles used by the healthcare providers is associated with their level of stress, health outcomes and risks of work-related burnout.

BACKGROUND

The war in Ukraine and following it increased migration has led to an increased workload for health professionals in Poland, both due to the increased number of women seeking care and the additional time needed to care for migrant women.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the stress-coping styles used by midwives in Poland in while carrying for Ukrainian migrant women.

METHODS

Five focus group interviews with a total of 32 midwives who cared for migrants from Ukraine after the outbreak of the full-scale war were conducted between March and June 2023.

FINDINGS

In order to cope with the difficulties, midwives took actions that fit into the task-oriented style of coping with stress, including 1. mobilization and participation in aid; 2. striving for effective communication and 3. providing support and education.

DISCUSSION

Midwives who participated in the study experienced stress due to increased workload, which was intensified by a feeling of lack of system support. The empathy enabled them to effectively cope with the emotional challenges in this challenging situation. .

CONCLUSION

Midwives' ability to effectively cope with stress, mainly through a task-oriented style increased their chances of offering high-quality maternity care. These underscore the importance of support for medical personnel and the need for further research to develop effective strategies for coping with stress in crisis situations.