The UK government set a target in 2015 to reduce stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths & brain injuries that happen during birth by 50% by 202. They also had an interim target of a 20% reduction by 2020.
In 2010 there were 5.1 stillborn babies per 1000 live births. Then in 2020 the figures felt o 3.8 babies per 1000 live births. The neonatal rate reduced by 29% by 2019 and will likely exceed the 2020 target.
“I thank & applaud midwifery students, trainees, maternity support workers, support staff, Maternity Voices Partnerships, midwives, obstetricians, neonatologists, anaesthetists, baby charities, policy colleagues & business & general managers for all that you have done to reduce the stillbirth rate.”
The decline of infant mortality rates since 1980 is likely a result of improvements in healthacre, antenatal and neonatal care. Find out more about Child and infant mortality in England and Wales here.
Reducing still birth rates will be covered at the forthcoming Saving Babies Lives: Reducing Stillbirth conference chaired by Professor Alex Heazell Clinical Director Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester.