The World Health Organisation estimates that globally, a baby dies every 37 seconds during labour as a stillbirth.
This means that more than 200 die every hour as a stillbirth, more than 5,000 per day or 1.9 million every year with more than 45 per cent being in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A report released by the WHO early this week showed that 1.9 million babies were stillborn at 28 weeks or more of gestation in 2021.
This means that for every 1,000 births, 14 were stillbirths or simply put, one in 72 babies were stillborn.
Of concern, however, is that most of the causes of stillbirth are treatable.
“Support and treatment for maternal infections such as malaria and syphilis, non-communicable diseases, and nutrition and lifestyle factors are critical,” the WHO says.
A woman’s ethnicity, race, education level, migration status and economic situation have been associated with a higher risk of stillbirth.
“These links must be investigated and talked about to ensure vulnerable groups are identified and supported,” WHO says.
In summary, these are the causes and risk factors for stillbirth as listed by WHO;
Access to health services
- Quality antenatal care (number of visits during pregnancy)
- Quality care during labour and childbirth
Socio-economic determinants
- Rural residence
- Migration status
- Sexual, physical, violent assault
- Ethnicity
- Consanguinity
- Economic status
Environmental impacts
- Exposure to high temperatures
- Indoor and outdoor air pollution
Maternal fertility-related conditions
- Complications during birth such as hypoxia
- Antepartum haemorrhage such as placental abruption
- Maternal age (younger than 16 or older than 35)
- Fetal growth restriction
- Infections and maternal conditions such as Malaria, syphilis, HI, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, Sickle cell disease
Behavioural factors
Source: WHO
