Stillbirths: economic and psychosocial consequences

Despite its frequency, the implications of stillbirth are overlooked and underappreciated. We present findings from comprehensive, systematic literature reviews, and new analyses of published and unpublished data, to establish the impact of stillbirth on parents, families, healthcare providers, and societies around the world. Data on direct costs of stillbirth are sparse, but indicate that stillbirth requires more resources than a live birth, both in the perinatal period and in additional surveillance during subsequent pregnancies. Indirect and intangible costs of stillbirth are far-reaching and are usually met by families. This is particularly onerous for those with fewer resources. Negative effects, particularly on parental mental health, may be moderated by empathic attitudes of care providers and tailored interventions. Efforts to prevent stillbirths and reduce associated morbidity should consider the value of the baby, as well as the associated costs and resource implications for parents, families, care providers and communities.
This is the third in a Series of five papers about ending preventable stillbirths.