Stillbirths in India: A Missed Opportunity in the Pursuit of Quality Maternal Care

Isha Sharma, Indian Institute of Technology
Alok Ranjan, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
Atul Pandey, Indian Institute of Technology
Anindita Dey, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

Background: India has achieved notable reductions in maternal mortality over recent decades. However, stillbirths remain a silent crisis in India, with inadequate address in national and global health agendas, substantial underreporting and significant disparities driven by socioeconomic factors and place of residence. This paper explores how India’s socioeconomic and geographical disparities drive the burden of stillbirth and argues for the inclusion of stillbirth prevention in maternal health policies. Methods: The present study utilizes two rounds of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), known as the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4 & NFHS-5), giving insights from past decade. Results: The findings indicate that the prevalence of stillbirth in India increased from 0.7% (in 2015-16) to 0.9% (in 2019-21) which indicates relative increase of about 29%. Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the strongest determinants of stillbirths in India. The place of residence plays a critical role in shaping stillbirth outcomes in India. Women living in rural area (0.9%) reported higher prevalence of stillbirth as compared to their urban counterparts (0.7%). Conclusion: Integrating stillbirth reduction into India’s maternal health strategy presents a unique opportunity to improve maternal health outcomes, reduce healthcare inequalities, and align with global health goals.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics

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