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Table 3 Cause of stillbirth by method of assessment for antepartum (ASB) and intrapartum stillbirth (ISB) and for all stillbirths combined

From: Understanding cause of stillbirth: a prospective observational multi-country study from sub-Saharan Africa

Method of Assessment

Healthcare providers’ review

Computer-based algorithms

Expert panel review

Cause of Death

ASBa n = 532% (n)

ISBa n = 643% (n)

Totalb n = 1267% (n)

ASBa n = 526% (n)

ISBa n = 599% (n)

Totalb n = 1215% (n)

ASB a n = 532% (n)

ISBa n = 643% (n)

Totalb n = 1267% (n)

Asphyxia

9.6 (51)

26.6 (171)

18.5 (234)

6.3 (33)

69.4 (416)

37.4 (455)

10.3 (55)

29.7 (191)

20.4 (258)

Placental disorders

13.0 (69)

15.1 (97)

15.1 (191)

10.6 (56)

5.2 (31)

8.4 (102)

10.7 (57)

13.4 (86)

13.1 (166)

Hypertensive disorders

14.5 (77)

13.2 (85)

13.6 (172)

8.7 (46)

1.5 (9)

5.1 (62)

15.0 (80)

12.3 (79)

13.3 (169)

Cord problems

5.3 (28)

7.9 (51)

6.5 (82)

2.9 (15)

3.3 (20)

3.3 (40)

4.5 (24)

7.8 (50)

6.2 (78)

Infectious conditions

10.0 (53)

4.4 (28)

6.6 (84)

14.4 (76)

3.8 (23)

9.0 (109)

7.7 (41)

2.8 (18)

4.7 (60)

Amniotic problems

3.9 (21)

3.9 (25)

3.7 (47)

3.4 (18)

3.7 (24)

3.4 (43)

Congenital anomalies

1.7 (9)

3.1 (20)

2.4 (31)

3.0 (16)

0.7 (4)

1.8 (22)

1.9 (10)

3.1 (20)

2.5 (32)

Ruptured uterus

2.6 (14)

7.0 (45)

5.2 (66)

2.9 (15)

1.7 (10)

2.6 (32)

3.0 (16)

7.8 (50)

5.7 (72)

Diabetes

0.9 (5)

0.3 (2)

0.6 (7)

0.2 (1)

0.2 (1)

0.2 (2)

0.6 (3)

0.3 (2)

0.4 (5)

Fetal growth restriction

19.4 (102)

5.0 (30)

12.9 (157)

0.4 (2)

0.6 (4)

0.5 (6)

Deep vein thrombosis

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

Iatrogenic

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

Post-maturity

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

Prematurity

5.8 (31)

1.4 (9)

3.3 (42)

3.4 (18)

0.5 (3)

1.7 (21)

Rhesus isoimmunisation

0.2 (1)

0.3 (2)

0.2 (3)

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

Sickle cell disease

0.2 (1)

0.2 (1)

0.2 (2)

Anaemia in pregnancy

1.7 (9)

1.4 (9)

1.4 (18)

0.6 (3)

0.5 (3)

0.5 (6)

Traditional abortive herbs

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

Trauma (external)

0.8 (4)

0.5 (3)

0.6 (7)

0.2 (1)

0.2 (1)

0.2 (2)

0.8 (4)

0.3 (2)

0.5 (6)

Birth trauma

0.8 (4)

0.8 (5)

0.7 (9)

Twin-twin transfusion

0.6 (3)

0.8 (5)

0.1 (12)

Unknown % (n)

29.5 (157)

14.5 (93)

21.9 (277)

31.6 (166)

6.8 (41)

17.9 (218)

36.8 (196)

16.5 (106)

26.4 (335)

  1. Top 3 causes for each method of assessment highlighted in bold
  2. a ASB Antepartum stillbirth, ISB Intrapartum stillbirth, Totalb Includes cases with unknown time of death