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Assessing the reporting of stillbirths in population data: trends and recurrence

Identifying sub-groups of women at increased risk of stillbirth through several population-based datasets. 

  • Brief

    A study aimed at potentially identifying sub-groups of women at increased risk of stillbirth through several population-based datasets. 

  • Background

    The findings will potentially identify sub-groups of women at increased risk of stillbirth who might benefit from closer surveillance, identify risk factors for stillbirth that may be modifiable, help information policy and plan maternity care services to improve the management of at-risk pregnancies, identify ways to improve the collection of stillbirth data, and generate new research questions to better understand and prevent stillbirths in the future. 

  • Key takeaways

    There has been no decline in the stillbirth rate in NSW in recent years, which, at late gestations, may be accounted for by changes in the maternal population. At early gestations, there has been an increase in stillbirths where a decrease in rate may be expected based on the maternal population.

  • Key contributors

    Research institution: Kolling Institute, University of Sydney
    Chief Investigator: Associate Professor Christine Roberts
    Other Investigators: Ms Jillian Patterson, Dr Samantha Lain, Associate Professor Jane Ford, Associate Professor Angela Todd, Professor Jonathan Morris 

  • Full report

    Access the report findings here.