title: Stillbirths: the vision for 2020.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. rgoldenb@drexelmed.edu
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Zulfiqar A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Bhutta
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Belizán
authors.forename: Uma M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rubens
authors.forename: Hillary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mabeya
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flenady
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Darmstadt
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000639:trends; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*