India had highest number of stillbirths in 2015

Approximately 2.6 million babies were stillborn in 2015 — around 7,200 every day globally. And India reported the maximum number of still births at 5,92,000.

According to the Lancet’s new “ending preventable stillbirths” series, 98 per cent of the total stillbirths occurred in low- income and middleincome countries and 75 per cent in sub- Saharan Africa and south Asia.

Significantly, the experts found that the progress lags behind than the maternal and child mortlaity.

In the new series, experts stated that half of all stillbirths ( 1. 3 million) occur during labour and birth. “Of the 2.6 million stillbirths ( which happen during the final trimester of pregnancy, or after 28 weeks gestation), half occur intrapartum ( during the birthing process),” it said.

India reported maximum number of stillbirths followed by Nigeria ( 3,14,000) Pakistan ( 2,43,000), China ( 1,22,000), Bangladesh ( 83,000).

Series co- author Professor Joy Lawn from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that from 2000 to 2015 global average stillbirth rate fell from 24 per 1000 total births to 18.

“Although some progress has been made, this reduction has been slower than the average annual reduction for maternal, neonatal and postneonatal mortality of children younger than 5 years,” he said.

In 2014, the World Health Assembly had endorsed a target of 12 or fewer stillbirths per 1000 births in every country by 2030.

“By 2015, 94 mainly highincome and middleincome countries have already met this target, although with noticeable disparities within countries.

At least 56 countries, particularly in Africa and in conflict- affected areas, will have to at least double their present pace of progress to reach this target,” said the Lancet.

Interestingly, the series also dispel the myth that all stillbirths are inevitable and are due to congenital conditions as data from 18 countries suggests that congenital abnormalities account for a median of only 7.4 per cent of stillbirths.

Many disorders associated with stillbirths are modifiable like maternal infections, non- communicable diseases, nutrition and lifestyle factors, and maternal age older than 35 years, the journal said.