A major report has revealed that a baby is stillborn every 30 seconds in Africa, exposing major cracks in the continent’s healthcare systems. Most striking was that the majority of these deaths were preventable.
Developed by more than 80 African experts from more than 20 countries, the report is led by Africa CDC, the International Stillbirth Alliance, the University of Cape Town, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UNICEF, and the WHO.
It reflects growing continental leadership and demand to elevate stillbirth on the political agenda and strengthen accountability.
The State of Africa’s Stillbirths (SOAS) report, launched last week at the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in Nairobi, estimates that 5m stillbirths could occur between 2026 and 2030 if current trends continue.
The study warns that millions more of these deaths could occur without immediate intervention, and underscores stillbirths as one of the clearest indicators of how well health systems are functioning, particularly in maternal care, reports the Cape Argus.
In 2023 alone, close to 1m third-trimester stillbirths were recorded across Africa, accounting for around half of the global total.
Lumbani Ngulube, project co-ordinator from UCT’s Division of Global Surgery, said what was most striking was that the majority of these deaths are preventable.
The report is the first continent-wide assessment focused exclusively on stillbirths, and calls for a shift from silence to accountability, and for governments to ensure that every stillbirth is counted, reviewed and, where possible, prevented.
Its findings point to a complex web of causes, from medical complications to structural barriers like poverty, limited access to healthcare, and delays in receiving treatment.
Nearly half of all stillbirths occur during labour, often within health facilities, indicting gaps in the quality of care at the most critical moment.
The findings also echo longstanding concerns about pressure on South Africa’s public healthcare system, where staff shortages, uneven access to care and gaps in maternal services continue to affect outcomes.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that avoidable maternal and neonatal deaths remain a persistent issue in South Africa, often linked to delays in care, overstretched facilities and disparities between urban and rural communities.
Beyond the immediate loss, the report highlights far-reaching consequences. Stillbirths are associated with increased risks in subsequent pregnancies, long-term physical and mental health impacts on mothers, and emotional trauma for families.
They also contribute to medical staff burnout and carry broader economic costs through lost productivity, increased healthcare needs and reduced human capital.
Globally, an estimated 1.9m late gestation stillbirths occurred in 2023, around half of them in Africa. The report’s authors said up to 70% of stillbirths could be reduced using existing, cost-effective interventions, including improving care during labour, strengthening referral systems, ensuring access to skilled health workers, and expanding emergency obstetric and newborn care.
Investing in quality care at birth has a multiplier effect, they added, reducing maternal and neonatal mortality while improving long-term developmental outcomes.
To end preventable stillbirths, political will, stronger accountability mechanisms and sustained investment in healthcare systems were crucial, warned the report.
State of Africa’s Stillbirths report
Cape Argus article – Africa's stillbirth crisis claims lives every 30 seconds (Open access)
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