Predictors of stillbirths in Bangladesh: evidence from the 2004–2014 nation-wide household surveys

BACKGROUND: Globally, stillbirth remains a significant public health issue, particularly in developing countries such as Bangladesh. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential predictors of stillbirths in Bangladesh over a ten-year period. METHODS: The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys data for the years 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014 (n = 29,094) were used for the study to investigate the predictors of stillbirths. Stillbirth was examined against a set of community, socio-economic and child characteristics, using a multivariable logistic regression model that adjusted for cluster and sampling variability. RESULTS: The pooled rate of stillbirth in Bangladesh was 28 in 1000 births (95% CI: 22, 34). Stillbirth rates were higher in rural compared to urban areas in Bangladesh. Mothers who had…