Stillbirths are Becoming more Prominent than HIV cases in terms of Casualties. They cannot be Ignored Anymore
The annual number of stillbirths (a baby that dies after the 28th week of gestation, or during the third trimester of pregnancy) around the world is more than the number of people who die from HIV-related causes. Today, it is becoming a serious public health issue globally, especially in developing countries.
Some 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide in 2009, according to the first comprehensive set of estimates published in the Lancet medical journal. As high as 66% (1.8 million) stillbirths in the world occur in just 10 countries. India leads, followed by Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Bangladesh, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Tanzania. Stillbirths disproportionately affect the poor, with 98% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. An African woman has a 24 times greater risk of stillbirth than a woman in a high-income country.
These deaths are directly related to lack of skilled care at the critical time for mothers and babies. Two-thirds occur in rural areas, where skilled birth attendants are not always available for essential care during childbirth and for obstetric emergencies, including Caesarean sections.
In rural Nyanza (Kenya’s western province) for instance, health centres are few and far between, and many women lose their babies on the long journey from home to the hospital, while others lose babies by choosing to deliver at home. Unless better facilities for antenatal care are created and awareness about the causes and prevention of stillbirth is spread around effectively, these macabre statistics are only bound to grow further.
Some 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide in 2009, according to the first comprehensive set of estimates published in the Lancet medical journal. As high as 66% (1.8 million) stillbirths in the world occur in just 10 countries. India leads, followed by Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Bangladesh, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Tanzania. Stillbirths disproportionately affect the poor, with 98% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. An African woman has a 24 times greater risk of stillbirth than a woman in a high-income country.
These deaths are directly related to lack of skilled care at the critical time for mothers and babies. Two-thirds occur in rural areas, where skilled birth attendants are not always available for essential care during childbirth and for obstetric emergencies, including Caesarean sections.
In rural Nyanza (Kenya’s western province) for instance, health centres are few and far between, and many women lose their babies on the long journey from home to the hospital, while others lose babies by choosing to deliver at home. Unless better facilities for antenatal care are created and awareness about the causes and prevention of stillbirth is spread around effectively, these macabre statistics are only bound to grow further.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age WomanIIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
IIPM Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri on Internet Hooliganism
Arindam Chaudhuri: We need Hazare's leadership
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri - A Man For The Society....
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
