Africa’s stillbirth crisis claims lives every 30 seconds

Every 30 seconds, a baby is stillborn in Africa, a largely preventable loss that a University of Cape Town-backed report says reflects deep strain in health systems. Every 30 seconds, a baby is stillborn in Africa, a largely preventable loss that researchers say exposes deep cracks in the continent’s healthcare systems, according to a major new report. Co-led by theUniversity of Cape Town, the study warns that millions more deaths could occur without urgent intervention, underscoring stillbirths as one of the clearest indicators of how well health systems are functioning, particularly in maternal care.

The State of Africa’s Stillbirths (SOAS) Report, launched on March 24 at the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference, estimates that five million stillbirths could occur between 2026 and 2030 if current trends continue. In 2023 alone, close to one million third-trimester stillbirths were recorded across Africa, accounting for around half of the global total. Researchers say most of these deaths could be avoided with timely, quality care.

“Behind every stillbirth is a mother, a family and a loss that is too often invisible,” said Lumbani Ngulube, project coordinator from UCT’s Division of Global Surgery. “What is most striking is that the majority of these deaths are preventable.” The report is led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside partners including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. It is the first continent-wide assessment focused exclusively on stillbirths, and calls for a shift from silence to accountability, urging governments to ensure that every stillbirth is counted, reviewed and, where possible, prevented.

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Its findings point to a complex web of causes, from medical complications to structural barriers such as poverty, limited access to healthcare, and delays in receiving treatment. Nearly half of all stillbirths occur during labour, often within health facilities, pointing to gaps in the quality of care at the most critical moment. The findings also echo longstanding concerns about pressure on South Africa’s public healthcare system, where staff shortages, uneven access to care and gaps in maternal services continue to affect outcomes.

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