Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths in Conflict Zones: A 10-Year Review of Health System Collapse
Armed conflict significantly increases the risk of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs) where health systems are fragile or in active collapse. Over the past decade, countries such as Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, and Ukraine have experienced substantial deterioration in maternal and neonatal outcomes due to both direct and indirect effects of conflict. This paper employs a narrative synthesis of published and grey literature to assess the burden of perinatal mortality in conflict zones, with particular attention to trends in stillbirth and neonatal mortality, disruptions in service delivery, and the responses of global health actors such as UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and Médecins Sans Frontières. In several conflict-affected regions, stillbirth rates have reached forty per one thousand births, while neonatal mortality exceeds fifty per one thousand live births more than double the global average. Stillbirths, often underreported due to civil registration collapse and cultural stigma, remain largely invisible in humanitarian data systems. Through comparative analysis, the paper highlights critical intervention points and proposes conflict-adapted strategies such as mobile neonatal care units, community-based midwifery, and the use of humanitarian corridors to reduce preventable deaths.
