<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">shila kaur</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kaur_shila@yahoo.com">kaur_shila@yahoo.com</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div><div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; "><b> <font face="Arial">News release WHO/5</font></b></span></div>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b> <font face="Arial">12 April 2011 </font></b></span></p>
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<p align="CENTER" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><b><font face="Arial" size="4">2.6 million babies stillborn in 2009</font></b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial" size="4">New global and country estimates published in Lancet Series</font></b></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial">Geneva, 14 April 2011:</font></b> <font face="Arial">Some 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide in 2009, according to the first comprehensive set of estimates published today in a special series of<i> The Lancet</i> medical journal.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Every day more than 7 200 babies are stillborn</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> a death just when parents expect to welcome a new life</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> and 98% of them occur in low- and middle-income countries. High-income countries are not immune, with one in 320 babies stillborn</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> a rate that has changed little in the past decade.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The new estimates show that the number of stillbirths worldwide has declined by only 1.1% per year, from 3 million in 1995 to 2.6 million in 2009. This is even slower than reductions for both maternal and child mortality in the same period.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The five main causes of stillbirth are childbirth complications, maternal infections in pregnancy, maternal disorders (especially hypertension and diabetes), fetal growth restriction and congenital abnormalities.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial">When and where do stillbirths occur?</font></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Almost half of all stillbirths, 1.2 million, happen when the woman is in labour. These deaths are directly related to the lack of skilled care at this critical time for mothers and babies.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Two-thirds happen in rural areas, where skilled birth attendants</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> in particular midwives and physicians</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> are not always available for essential care during childbirth and for obstetric emergencies, including caesarean sections.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The stillbirth rate varies sharply by country, from the lowest rates of 2 per 1 000 births in Finland and Singapore and 2.2 per 1 000 births in Denmark and Norway, to highs of 47 in Pakistan and 42 in Nigeria, 36 in Bangladesh, and 34 in Djibouti and Senegal. Rates also vary widely within countries. In India, for example, rates range from 20 to 66 per 1 000 births in different states.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">It is estimated that 66%</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> some 1.8 million stillbirths</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> occur in just 10 countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Afghanistan and the United Republic of Tanzania.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Comparing stillbirth rates in 1995 to 2009, the least progress has been seen in Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. However, some large countries have made progress, such as China, Bangladesh, and India, with a combined estimate of 400 000 fewer stillbirths in 2009 than in 1995. Mexico has halved its rate of stillbirths in that time.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">“Many stillbirths are invisible because they go unrecorded, and are not seen as a major public health problem. Yet, it is a heartbreaking loss for women and families. We need to acknowledge these losses and do everything we can to prevent them. Stillbirths need to be part of the maternal, newborn and child health agenda,” says Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Family and Community Health.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial">Well-known interventions for women and babies would save stillbirths too</font></b></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The</font><i> <font face="Arial">Series</font></i><font face="Arial"> shows that the way to address the problem of stillbirth is to strengthen existing maternal, newborn, and child health programmes by focusing on key interventions, which also have benefits for mothers and newborns.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">According to an analysis to which WHO contributed in</font><i> <font face="Arial">The Lancet Stillbirth Series</font></i><font face="Arial">, as many as 1.1 million stillbirths could be averted with universal coverage of the following interventions:</font></span></p>
<ul style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; ">
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Comprehensive emergency obstetric care 696 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Syphilis detection and treatment 136 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Detection and management of fetal growth restriction 107 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Detection and management of hypertension during pregnancy 57 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Identification and induction for mothers with >41 weeks gestation 52 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Malaria prevention, including bednets and drugs 35 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Folic acid fortification before conception 27 000</font></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Detection and management of diabetes in pregnancy 24 000</font></span></li>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Strengthening family planning services would also save lives by reducing the numbers of unintended pregnancies, especially among high-risk women, and thereby reduce stillbirths.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">“If every woman had access to a skilled birth attendant</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> a midwife, and if necessary a physician</font> <font face="Times New Roman">─</font><font face="Arial"> for both essential care and for procedures such as emergency caesarean sections, we would see a dramatic decrease in the number of stillbirths,</font><font face="Times New Roman">”</font><font face="Arial"> says Dr Carole Presern, Director of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), and a trained midwife.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial">Stillbirths overlooked</font></b></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Despite the large numbers, stillbirths have been relatively overlooked. They are not included in the Millennium Development Goals for improving maternal health and reducing child mortality.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The estimates were generated using a statistical model that took records of births and deaths (known as 'vital registration' data) from 79 countries, surveys from 39 countries, and studies from 42 countries. Weak vital registration systems, especially in the regions where most stillbirths occur, limit the availability of data and hamper the calculation of precise estimates. Vital registration systems must be improved so that all stillbirths are counted.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">The new estimates aim to improve knowledge about the extent of the problem, and draw public and professional attention to stillbirths as a significant global public health issue.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Some 69 authors from more than 50 organizations in 18 countries wrote the six scientific papers, two research articles, and eight linked commentaries included in</font><i> <font face="Arial">The Lancet Stillbirth Series</font></i><font face="Arial">, which was initiated by the World Health Organization ( WHO) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><b><font face="Arial">UN commitment</font></b></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">In September 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, aimed at saving 16 million women and children over the next five years. In the framework of the Strategy, numerous countries have committed to improving access to family planning, antenatal care and skilled birth attendants, which should lead to reductions in stillbirths.</font></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">In September this year, a special session on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) will be held at the UN General Assembly. NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are risk factors for stillbirth.</font></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><u><b><font face="Arial">For further information</font></b></u><b></b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Embargoed materials (press release, map, b-roll, etc) are available from this password-protected web site: </font></span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/maternal_perinatal/stillbirth/" target="_blank"><span lang="en-gb"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial">http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/maternal_perinatal/stillbirth/</font></u></span></a><span lang="en-gb"></span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Username: StillbirthEstimates</font></span>
<br><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Password: 50%by2020</font></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">To arrange interviews, please contact:</font></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Olivia Lawe-Davies, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO</font></span>
<br><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Email: </font></span><a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:lawedavieso@who.int" target="_blank"><span lang="en-gb"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial">lawedavieso@who.int</font></u></span></a><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">; Office: + 41 22 791 1209; Mobile: +41 79 475 5545</font></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Tammy Farrell, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH)</font></span>
<br><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">Email: </font></span><a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:farrellt@who.int" target="_blank"><span lang="en-gb"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial">farrellt@who.int</font></u></span></a><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">; Office: + 41 22 791 4711</font></span>
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<p style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span lang="en-gb"><font face="Arial">All WHO information can be found at </font></span><a rel="nofollow"><span lang="en-gb"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial">www.who.int</font></u></span></a><span lang="en-gb"></span>
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