This suite of studies forms the major component of PhD thesis for Tania Marsden.
In this study we identified causes of stillbirths in a large well-investigated cohort and improve the quality of data on stillbirths across Australia through identifying a cost-effective, evidence-based approach to stillbirth investigations.
Specific aims are:
- To describe the causes and contributing factors to stillbirth in a well investigated cohort.
- To evaluate the procedures involved in establishing and maintaining a stillbirth research data collection system, including independent expert panel review, compliance with Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) stillbirth investigation protocol and data quality
- To determine agreement between hospital review committees and the expert panel with regards to classification of causes of stillbirth using the PSANZ Perinatal Death Classification (PDC).
- To determine the clinical utility of stillbirth investigations.
- To determine the reporting practices of perinatal autopsies and placental pathology in stillbirths.
Research team: Jessica Sexton, Mu Cheng, Jane Dahlstrom, Yee Khong, Fran Boyle, Michael Coory, Vicki Flenady, David Ellwood.
Affiliation:
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Australia
- Consultant Pathologist, ACT Pathology, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, Australia
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Science and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Consultant Pathologist, SA Pathology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Adelaide, Australia.
- Professor Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Griffith University and Director of Maternal-fetal Medicine, Gold Coast University Hospital Gold Coast, Australia
Publications:
Sexton JK, Mahomed K, Marsden T, Coory M, Gardener G, Ellwood D, et al. Prospective cohort study: Causes of stillbirth in Australia 2013–2018. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021;61(5):667-74.
Marsden T, Khong TY, Dahlstrom JE, Ellwood D, Moghimi A, Prystupa S, et al. Validation of a tool for determining the clinical utility of stillbirth investigations. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2023;63(4):535-40.
Marsden T, Shukralla H, Khong TY, Dahlstrom JE, Flenady V, Sexton J. Understanding the clinical utility of stillbirth investigations: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2025;25(1):221.
