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There are stillbirths in the United States More common than previously mentionedStill affecting one in every 147 births despite advances in prenatal care, according to a new study Study,
researcher But Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham Over 2.7 million views of the results pregnancy between 2016 and 2022 and found that during that time, there were nearly 19,000 stillbirths — a rate higher than recorded in federal data.
during the course, Published Monday in JAMANotes that one in 147 pregnancies end in steelbirthNational average as reported Centers for Disease Control and Prevention One in 175 pregnancies.
“Both of these data sources – our study’s data and the CDC data – have potential flaws, but the main issue is that, regardless of the data source, the stillbirth rates are very high,” said study co-leader Jessica Cohen.
The study also found that stillbirth rates vary across racial and socioeconomic groups, with their frequency becoming even higher for families living in low-income areas, where one in every 112 births ends in a stillbirth. Meanwhile, in areas with a higher population of black families than white families, one out of every 95 births resulted in a stillbirth.
The researchers also found that about 30 percent of stillbirths occurred in pregnancies where there were no previously identified clinical risk factors.
“The United States has the highest stillbirth rate of all high-income countries and has seen barely any improvement in the stillbirth rate in recent years,” Cohen said.
The study found that stillbirth rates were highest in pregnancies with low amniotic fluid levels, fetal anomalies and chronic hypertension, although other factors included maternal diabetes, obesity and substance abuse.
According to study co-leader Dr. Mark Clapp of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, pregnancies with these risk factors require close monitoring, such as increased ultrasound exams or fetal heart testing.
While stillbirth rates were found to be increased in low-income areas, rural or urban residence and access to maternity care were not associated with the risk of stillbirth.
The study authors say more research is needed to determine what causes the differences in stillbirth rates across different socioeconomic groups.
“Stillbirth affects approximately 21,000 families each year in the U.S. and approximately half of the cases occurring at 37+ weeks are preventable. Yet there is little research in this area,” said co-author Cohen.
“Our study highlights the urgent need to improve the prediction and prevention of stillbirth risk.”
With reporting from Reuters.