PLOS Medicine · 24 August 2026 · From issue 26
Trends of stillbirth, early neonatal and perinatal mortality rates and sociodemographic differentials of perinatal mortality rates in 17 low- and middle-income countries: A modeling study
Stillbirth and newborn death rates fell over time, but poorer families still face higher risks.
Mohamed M. Ali, Luca Cegolon et al.
Deaths of babies just before or right after birth have dropped over time in many poorer countries. Researchers built a better math tool to fix common survey mistakes, like parents forgetting a loss or mixing up a stillbirth with an early death. Even with this fix, poor, less educated, and rural families still face higher risks. Progress differs a lot from country to country.
The number of pregnancies studied across 93 surveys in 17 lower income countries.
17 countries studied, survey based, gaps between rich and poor remain.
Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 25 August 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (PLOS Medicine). Read the source
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