Asia-Pacific

India has highest number of stillbirths: study

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-16 15:36

NEW DELHI - India has the highest number of stillbirths, according to a study published in the British medical journal The Lancet published Saturday.

The study says that India accounts for the highest number of stillbirths in the world. In fact, in 2009, more than 600,000 children were born dead in India.

"Typical complications of pregnancy, hypertension diabetes are still killing a lot of babies in low-income countries. Infections like malaria and syphilis still affecting many babies world over third group," the study's author J. Frederik said.

The study has also pointed out that India along with, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Bangladesh account for half of all stillbirths worldwide.

In India, the stillbirth rates vary from 20 to 66 per 1,000 births in different states, a shocking figure when compared with countries like Finland and Singapore that have the lowest childbirth rates.

The journal's study, based on a survey, came just days after its explosive report on the Indian capital's water being contaminated with the super bug, a claim denied by New Delhi.