Health System Performance and Maternal Factors Associated With Women's Experiences After Stillbirth in Port Harcourt

Stillbirth, defined by the World Health Organization as the birth of a baby with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation, remains a major public health concern globally, with approximately 98% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Nigeria bears a particularly heavy burden, ranking second worldwide in stillbirth rates. Despite this high prevalence, comprehensive and accurate data on the full spectrum of risk factors—especially non-medical and patient-related determinants—remain limited. Existing evidence is largely derived from hospital-based record reviews, which primarily capture medical and obstetric causes but provide little insight into social, behavioral, and health-system factors influencing stillbirth outcomes. This gap restricts the development of effective, community-level interventions and targeted prevention strategies. This study highlights the urgent need for population-based research to better characterize patient-related and contextual factors associated with stillbirths in Nigeria, thereby informing evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at reducing preventable fetal deaths.