ANZJOG Study: More Education Required for Stillbirth Investigations

A new study, recently published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, has found that compliance with recommended investigations for stillbirths as outlined in the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand  Perinatal Mortality Clinical Practice Guidelines (2009) was suboptimal in 2018, with many stillbirths remaining unexplained.

The paper, titled “ Prospective cohort study: Causes of stillbirth in Australia 2013–2018” highlights the need for education on the value of stillbirth investigations to improve care and research.

The aim of this study was to assess compliance with the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Perinatal Mortality Clinical Practice Guidelines (2009) for stillbirths. The conclusion of the study was that compliance with recommended investigations for stillbirth was suboptimal, and many stillbirths remain unexplained. Education on the value of investigations for stillbirth is needed. Future studies should focus on understanding the yield and value of investigations and service delivery gaps that impact compliance.

View the ANZJOG paper online or download the guideline below for your reference.

Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (CASaND) Clinical Practice Guideline