Wales' stillbirth rate 'barely changed' since 1990s
More could and should be done to reduce the rate of stillbirths in Wales according to the National Assembly's health and social care committee. The committee says the Welsh Government must do more to raise awareness of the stillbirths.
Assembly members found that while neonatal and infant mortality rates have improved over the last 10 years, stillbirth rates have barely changed since the early 1990s. The committee said there is no single remedy, but the Welsh Government needs to concentrate on smalls steps towards improvement.
– Mark Drakeford AM, Health and Social Care Committee chairmanThe stillbirth of a child is a tragedy which devastates families. Yet, as a population, our awareness of stillbirth - particularly its causes and what can be done to prevent it - is worryingly low.
As a Committee we are in no doubt that the current rate of stillbirths in Wales can be reduced.
More needs to be done to raise public and professional awareness of stillbirth and the risk factors that contribute towards it.
Greater effort is also needed to understand the underlying causes of stillbirth, particularly with over half of all deaths currently classified as 'unexplained.'
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