Abstract
Disparities in stillbirth (SB) are mainly related to socioeconomic factors. Developing countries have a SB rate five-times higher than that of developed countries, one-third of which occur intrapartum. Instead, in developed countries the access to antenatal care became the first preventive intervention for SB. In this article, we summarize strategies for SB prevention in the developing and developed world. Moreover, we report a critical evaluation of the six most used classification systems, highlighting the best performer. Similarly, we summarize the necessary diagnostic examinations for an appropriate classification of SB. Some of the new lines of investigation are reported here. However, any new finding on the cause of SB has to acknowledge a model of interpretation that takes into account a triad; the fetus and its characteristics, the uterine environment and the circumstances of death.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.