Data presented at the Directorate’s annual health performance review showed that 97 of the cases were macerated stillbirths, while 65 were fresh stillbirths. The figures contributed significantly to the metropolis’ perinatal mortality rate, which stood at 45 deaths per 1,000 deliveries.

Presenting the report, Ms Doris Ocansey, Adolescent Reproductive Health Focal Person for the Directorate, explained that perinatal mortality includes fresh and macerated stillbirths as well as early neonatal deaths—defined as the death of a baby within the first seven days after birth.

According to her, trend analysis from 2022 to 2025 indicated that fresh stillbirths had generally declined over the years before recording a slight increase in 2025, while macerated stillbirths remained persistently high.

Ms Ocansey expressed concern over what she described as a disconnect between high antenatal care attendance and pregnancy outcomes. She noted that many pregnant women attended at least four antenatal visits, with some making eight or more visits, exceeding programme targets.

She questioned why the high patronage of antenatal services was not translating into better outcomes for mothers and babies, explaining that macerated stillbirths—where the foetus dies before labour begins—are often used as an indicator of the quality and effectiveness of antenatal care services.

According to her, the trend raises critical questions about whether expectant mothers are receiving the level of care needed to detect and manage complications early enough to prevent foetal deaths.

Health officials and stakeholders at the review meeting also expressed concern over early neonatal deaths and called for a comprehensive assessment of delivery and post-delivery care services to identify gaps affecting newborn survival.

They explained that fresh stillbirths are often linked to undetected foetal distress and delays in clinical decision-making during labour, whereas macerated stillbirths point to complications that occur during pregnancy before labour begins.

Facility-level data showed that Tema General Hospital recorded the highest number of stillbirths, accounting for 147 of the 162 cases reported in the metropolis.

Stakeholders stressed the need to strengthen the quality of antenatal care, enhance risk detection systems, and ensure timely referral and management of high-risk pregnancies to improve maternal and newborn outcomes.