Stillbirths: the vision for 2020
Open accessAbstract
Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome, with nearly 3 million third-trimester stillbirths occurring worldwide each year. 98% occur in low-income and middle-income countries, and more than 1 million stillbirths occur in the intrapartum period, despite many being preventable. Nevertheless, stillbirth is practically unrecognised as a public health issue and few data are reported. In this final paper in the Stillbirths Series, we call for inclusion of stillbirth as a recognised outcome in all relevant international health reports and initiatives. We ask every country to develop and implement a plan to improve maternal and neonatal health that includes a reduction in stillbirths, and to count stillbirths in their vital statistics and other health outcome surveillance systems. We also ask for increased investment in stillbirth-related research, and especially research aimed at identifying and addressing barriers to the aversion of stillbirths within the maternal and neonatal health systems of low-income and middle-income countries. Finally, we ask all those interested in reducing stillbirths to join with advocates for the improvement of other pregnancy-related outcomes, for mothers and their offspring, so that a united front for improved pregnancy and neonatal care for all will become a reality.
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The 2011 Lancet series made a plea for increased investment in relevant research.
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From Systematic review to understand and improve care after stillbirth: a review of parents’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences (2016) · cites this paper as [5]
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References 43 · Cited by 182
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [3]3. Bhutta Z, Yakoob ME, Lawn JE, Rizvi A, Friberg I, Weissman E, Buchman E, Goldenberg RL. Stillbirths: What works? Feasible solutions in developing countries. Lancet (in press)
- [11]11. Cousens S, Stanton C, Blencowe H, Ahmed S, Steinhardt L, Creanga A, et al. National, regional and global estimates of stillbirth rates in 2008 and trends since 1995. Lancet (in press)
- [16]16. Smith GC, Fretts RC. Stillbirth. Lancet 2007; 370: 1715-25.
- [29]29. Willinger M, Ko CW, Reddy UM. Racial disparities in stillbirth risk across gestation in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 201: 469 e1-8.
- Authors
- Goldenberg, R. L., McClure, E. M., Bhutta, Z. A., Belizán, J. M., Reddy, U. M., Rubens, C. E., Mabeya, H., Flenady, V., & Darmstadt, G. L.
- Affiliations
- Drexel University (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Aga Khan University (PK)
- Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (AR)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (US)
- Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (US)
- Moi University (KE)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Gates Foundation (US)
- Corresponding author
- Goldenberg, Robert L
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Lancet
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 377
- Issue
- 9779
- Pages
- 1798-1805
- ISSN
- 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
- 0140-6736
- OpenAlex
- W2150820296
- Cited by
- 182
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 15.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- The Lancet (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UpSpace Institutional Repository (University of Pretoria) (submittedVersion)
- Conicet (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Maternal and fetal healthcare
- Keywords
- stillbirth, stillbirth prevention, intrapartum stillbirth, maternal health, newborn health, vital statistics, low- and middle-income countries, research investment, public health advocacy
- MeSH terms
- Developing Countries, Female, Forecasting, Health Services Accessibility, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Maternal Health Services, Population Surveillance, Pregnancy, Quality of Health Care, Prevalence, Biomedical Research, Stillbirth
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