Interventions in Pregnancy to Reduce Risk of Stillbirth

Abstract

Stillbirth remains a global health challenge, with more than 2.6 million stillbirths per year [1]. Although only 2% of the global burden of stillbirths is in high-income countries (HICs), with virtually no improvement in rates for over two decades, action in HICs is urgently needed [2]. There is a six-fold difference between the highest and lowest rates (Ukraine 8.8 stillbirths per 1,000 births after 28 weeks vs. Iceland 1.3 stillbirths per 1,000 births). As well as variation between countries it is well established that there is variation within countries, with women from indigenous or minority ethnic groups, migrant populations or socioeconomically deprived groups as well as women at extremes of maternal age being at increased risk of stillbirth [2]. The disparity between and within countries suggests that more could be done in HICs to reduce stillbirth rates: this includes reducing the frequency of substandard care recurrently described in Confidential Enquiries into Stillbirth and implementing strategies to mitigate the increased risk of stillbirth in specific groups of women [3, 4].