The Stillbirth Foundation is pleased to be able support much-needed research into the causes of stillbirth and thanks those researchers who are committed to ensuring that the stillbirth rate starts to decline in Australia and New Zealand.

Case-Control Study into the causes of stillbirth from 32 weeks gestation and to produce a best evidence stillbirth education program using the SCORPIO method

In 2006, the Stillbirth Foundation has provided $75,000 as a grant in aide of the above study to be conducted by Dr Adrienne Gordon under the co-supervision of Associate Professor Heather Jeffery of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Professor Jonathan Morris of Royal North Shore Hospital. This is a three year commitment of the Stillbirth Foundation, to provide $72,000 in each of the following two years.

This research project is focused on risk factors for stillbirth, both epidemiological and infectious.

Stillbirth is defined in Australia as the loss of a fetus who shows no signs of life at birth and is at least 400 grams in birthweight or at least 20 weeks in gestation. In Australia from 1992 to 2003 the sillbirth rate has declined from 6.4 to 5.1 per 1,000 births (Australian Bureau of Statistics - ABS). This has coincided with an overall decline in the perinatal mortality rate (stillbirths and newborn deaths) from 11 to 8 per 1,000 births. With the fall in neonatal mortality in developed countries since the 1980's the gap between the fetal and neonatal death rates has become more pronounced. Stillbirths continue to account for two thirds of all perinatal deaths.

This is a major unresolved public health issue and the current stillbirth rate is higher than the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) rate prior to the successful reduce the risk campaign in 1991. In 2003, there were 1288 stillbirths in Australia which is almost double the number of deaths reported for all children between the ages of 1 to 14 years (ABS).

Despite current knowledge regarding stillbirth there is much that is unknown and the area has been relatively understudied. The underlying aetiology for stillbirth is felt to be multifactorial with frequently cited risk factors including: maternal age, smoking, maternal weight, recurrent stillbirth, parity and socio-economic status. The role of bacterial infection has been documented as important in early stillbirths whereas viral infection, in comparison, has so far been poorly described.

The study comprises of three main parts. The first is a state wide cohort study over 5 years in New South Wales assessing population risk factors via linkage of two databases - the Midwives Data Collection and the Perinatal Death Classification. This aims to document the pattern and risk factors for stillbirth on a population basis since the revised classification guidelines have been in use. The second part of the study is a multicentre prospective hospital based case control study that aims to particularly assess the risk factors for unexplained stillbirth in infants more than 32 weeks. The third component of the study is part of a collaborative study into viral infection and stillbirth. This will use molecular testing for groups of viruses called multiplex PCR. This technology has not previously been performed within a well defined case control study of this nature.

The key features of this research project are that the researchers will prospectively assess not only epidemiological factors but also the influence of infection both bacterial and viral together with comprehensive post mortem and placental investigation.

Stillbirth Literature Review

In July 2007, the Stillbirth Foundation is thrilled to have fully funded a stillbirth literature review to be conducted by Dr Vicki Flenady of the Mater Mother's Hospital Brisbane in partnership with ANZSA.  This study has cost $47,000 and will involve a review of all the available published studies into stillbirth throughout the world.  Surprisingly this review has not been done before and has been met with much admiration and support from the international stillbirth community.  From this review, Dr Vicki Flenady plans to discover what is known as a risk factor for stillbirth, what has been proven not to be, and what areas need further research.  This information will enable the Stillbirth Foundation more effectively fund the most needed stillbirth studies and may allow for a parent advocacy program into the causes of stillbirth. 

Autopsy Study 2007

The Stillbirth Foundation was fortunate to be able to assist a study in Queensland that considered the decision making process of parents in relation to autopsy.  This was presented as a poster at the International Stillbirth Alliance's Conference in Birmingham in October 2007.  To download the poster, please follow this Autopsy Study link.