title: Cause of and factors associated with stillbirth: a systematic review of classification systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An estimated 2.6 million stillbirths occur worldwide each year. A standardized classification system setting out possible cause of death and contributing factors is useful to help obtain comparative data across different settings. We undertook a systematic review of stillbirth classification systems to highlight their strengths and weaknesses for practitioners and policymakers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic search and review of the literature to identify the classification systems used to aggregate information for stillbirth and perinatal deaths. Narrative synthesis was used to compare the range and depth of information required to apply the systems, and the different categories provided for cause of and factors contributing to stillbirth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 118 documents were screened; 31 classification systems were included, of which six were designed specifically for stillbirth, 14 for perinatal death, three systems included neonatal deaths and two included infant deaths. Most (27/31) were developed in and first tested using data obtained from high-income settings. All systems required information from clinical records. One-third of the classification systems (11/31) included information obtained from histology or autopsy. The percentage where cause of death remained unknown ranged from 0.39% using the Nordic-Baltic classification to 46.4% using the Keeling system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over time, classification systems have become more complex. The success of application is dependent on the availability of detailed clinical information and laboratory investigations. Systems that adopt a layered approach allow for classification of cause of death to a broad as well as to a more detailed level.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Mamuda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aminu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bar-Zeev
authors.affiliation: Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Nynke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van den Broek
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Cause of death; classification; pregnancy outcome; stillbirth; systematic review