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Stillbirth (pregnancy loss after 22 weeks' gestation) is a sensitive marker of a healthcare system's quality. The World Health Assembly has endorsed a target of <12 stillbirths per 1000 births by the year 2030. The worldwide stillbirth rate was 24.7 per 1000 births in 2000 and 18.4 per 1000 births in 2015. Although 94 high- and middle-income countries have attained the target, many low-income countries have stillbirth rates >20 per 1000 births. The highest reported rates are in Pakistan (43.1), Nigeria (42.9), and Chad (39.9). Worldwide, half of stillbirths occur during labor and birth.
Four interrelated processes have been identified to address preventable stillbirths:
Optimal preconception care: Access to family planning options, good nutri…