Not Enough Progress in Work to Prevent Stillbirth

In a series of papers on ending preventable stillbirths, published in the Lancet this week it has been suggested that much more still needs to be done to reduce stillbirth rates around the world. Although 94 high and middle income countries are currently meeting the World Heath Assembly’s acceptable range a large number of other countries still need to double their progress rates in order to meet targets.

The papers indicate that the number of stillbirths has remained unchanged since 2011, and although rates fell overall between 2000 and 2015, they are still way above the target set by the World Heath Assembly for 2030. The 2% annual rate of reduction is currently slower than that of the progress on avoiding maternal, newborn and child deaths.

Research found most of the estimated 2.6 million stillbirths last year could have been prevented with improved antenatal care and better monitoring during labour. If improvements were made in the 75 worst affected countries, it is hoped that an estimated 823,000 stillbirths could be prevented. Half of all stillbirths occur during labour, and more investment into health systems is needed to change this.

Dr Hannah Blencowe, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , said: “What we need is leadership on a global level and at national level and among health professionals and communities.  And we need to listen more to the voices of women, families and communities because more than 7,000 [of them] will experience stillbirth each day, a tragedy for each one.”

For further details on the series see the Guardian report here

Or the Lancet here