NT stillborn rate twice as high as national figure after 26 stillbirths in 2014

TERRITORY babies are stillborn at a rate twice as high as the national figure

Generic picture of bed in hospital ward 01 Apr 2009.

TERRITORY babies are stillborn at a rate twice as high as the national figure.

There were 26 stillbirths registered in the NT in 2014, the latest figures available. That equates to about 6.5 stillbirths per 1000 births, far higher than the national rate of 2.7.

According to data from the NT Child Deaths Review and Prevention Committee, 34.6 per cent of those stillbirths were boys, and 65.4 per cent were girls.

Aboriginal children made up 38.5 per cent of stillbirths.

Top End Health Service strategic primary health care general manager Dr Christine Connors said indigenous women had poorer health outcomes, which may contribute to the higher rate of stillbirth.

“Higher rates of infection, including sexually transmitted infections, chronic diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease, and smoking can be causes of stillbirths, especially among Aboriginal women where rates of these conditions are higher than in non-Aboriginal women,” she said.

About 50 per cent of pregnant Aboriginal women smoke, about the same as the rate of the general Aboriginal population.

“The smoking rate among pregnant non-Aboriginal women is 10 per cent, which is much lower than the general non-Aboriginal rate – about 22 per cent,” Dr Connors said.

She said indigenous women were also less likely to attend check ups during pregnancy on time, increasing the risk of complications from infections and chronic disease.

“Currently 55 per cent of Aboriginal women present for antenatal care in the first trimester compared with 85 per cent of non-Aboriginal women,” Dr Connors said.

She said the reason for the gender discrepancy in stillbirth rates was unknown.

SIDS and Kids NT general manager Danie McNeil said stillbirth was traumatic.

“Everyone’s grief is different – there’s no right or wrong way to grieve,” she said.

“They’ll grieve for rest of their lives.”

For 24-hour bereavement support for those who have lost a child, call 0448 849 234.