Table 17 Research gaps for care before and during pregnancy to reduce stillbirths

Pilot/cohort studies of interventions

   • Trials of alternative cooking technologies or cleaner fuels*

   • FGM (especially infibulation) vs. no FGM in non-facility-based births*

   • Birth spacing studies, including identification of behavioural/emotional factors after a loss leading to short subsequent IPIs.

Well-designed large RCTs of interventions powered to detect stillbirths

   • Effective nutritional interventions, particularly balanced protein-energy supplementation and multiple micronutrient supplementation*

   • ANC packages with clearly defined component interventions

   • Iron (or iron-folate) supplementation in iron-deficient populations

   • Peri-conceptional folic acid supplementation

   • Vitamin A in high-risk groups