Stillbirths: the hidden burden of malaria in pregnancy.

Abstract

Globally, most stillbirths are preventable.1 An estimated 2·6 million third-trimester stillbirths occur annually, and over 90% of these stillbirths result from modifiable medical conditions. Such disorders include chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes; obstetric conditions such as advanced maternal age and post-term pregnancies; and infections such as malaria and syphilis. Given the epidemiology of these factors, stillbirths occur at the highest rates in southern Asia (25·5 per 1000 births) and sub-Saharan Africa (28·7 per 1000 births).