Stillbirth rate in India: A new study has revealed that over six in every 1,000 deliveries in India in 2020 may have resulted in stillbirths, with higher rates reported among urban mothers compared to their rural counterparts, according to news agency PTI.
The analysis, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, draws on national-level data from the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and the Civil Registration System (CRS) maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, found that the nationwide stillbirth rate (SBR) stood at 6.548 per 1,000 total births, 6.54 for female foetuses and 6.63 for males. The study found stillbirth rates to be notably higher among urban mothers, in contrast to rural populations.
Also Read | Study finds anaemia during pregnancy raises baby’s heart risk by 47%
The report identifies stillbirth hotspots in northern and central India, with Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan recording the highest rates. These regions, the study notes, show a concerning concentration of stillbirths despite broader national efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
The researchers observed that districts with a higher prevalence of anaemia and underweight conditions among pregnant women experienced elevated stillbirth rates. Both conditions are known to increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes significantly.
Conversely, the study highlights that hygienic menstrual practices and higher rates of Caesarean (C-section) deliveries were associated with reduced stillbirth rates, particularly in states such as Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. This finding aligns with data from NFHS-5, which showed that about 45% of deliveries in southern India during 2019–2020 were conducted via C-section.
States such as Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh showed that consistent antenatal care, including at least four prenatal check-ups and adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation, could significantly reduce stillbirth risks.
The study further suggests that higher rates of stillbirths were observed in regions where more deliveries occurred in public health facilities and where women tended to have lower wealth status.
(Source: PTI)
