Maryam Alipour, Parvaneh Mousavi, Pourandokht Afshary, Mohammad Hossein Haghighizadeh

Abstract

Background and objective: Midwifery is based on care and support, and midwifery professionalism depends on the attitude and self-efficacy of the midwives. Paying attention and enhancing the self-efficacy of staff needs identifying the factors predicting or determining it. Emotional intelligence is one of these factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-efficacy in midwives working in maternity blocks in Khuzestan. Methodology: This analytical study was conducted on all midwives working in maternity blocks of hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences using census sampling of eligible individuals technique. Data were collected utilizing a demographic questionnaire, Bar-on emotional intelligence questionnaire, and Sherrer self-efficacy questionnaire. They were analyzed by ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and regression analysis tests using SPSS software (version 22). A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The findings of this investigation revealed that 61.2% of the midwives had an excellent level of emotional intelligence and 86.3% had a good level of self-efficacy. A positive and significant correlation was observed between emotional intelligence and self-efficacy (R = 0.643, p <0.001). Conclusion: Because of vital role and task of midwives in protecting the health of mothers and neonates and the importance of self-efficacy in midwifery work and given the significant relationship of emotional intelligence with self-efficacy, the self-efficiency of the midwiferies can be enhanced through holding training and retraining courses on emotional intelligence area‎.