Stillbirths were higher in regions with greater public health facility deliveries and among women from lower-income groups, study found.
New Delhi: Over six in every 1,000 deliveries in India in 2020 may have resulted in stillbirths, with urban mothers reporting higher rates than those in rural areas, according to a new analysis of national survey and registration data.
The study, led by researchers from AIIMS Gorakhpur and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, identified northern and central India as stillbirth hotspots, with Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan recording the highest rates. The findings were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia.
Drawing on the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and the 2020 Civil Registration System report, the team estimated India’s nationwide stillbirth rate (SBR) at 6.5 per 1,000 births (female: 6.54; male: 6.63).
Health and Hygiene Practices Play an Important Role
Stillbirths were more common in districts where mothers were anaemic or underweight—conditions that significantly raise risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In contrast, hygienic menstrual practices and caesarean deliveries were associated with lower stillbirth rates, particularly in southern states like Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. South India also reported a C-section prevalence of around 45% in 2019–20, NFHS-5 data showed.
Prenatal Check-ups and Supplements During Pregnancy Reduce the Risk
Evidence from states including Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh underlined the importance of at least four antenatal check-ups and iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy to reduce the risk.
The study further found that stillbirths were higher in regions with greater public health facility deliveries and among women from lower-income groups.
While overall rates did not differ significantly between male and female foetuses, researchers noted a slightly higher prevalence among males, hinting at a possible biological vulnerability.