How nutrition affects late stillbirths and newborn deaths in Sub‑Saharan Africa
Nutrition, late fetal and neonatal mortality in the African context
This project looks at whether the nutrition of mothers and newborns is linked to stillbirths and deaths in the last weeks of pregnancy and the first month after birth in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193286 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project examines how maternal and newborn nutrition relates to stillbirths and deaths in the first 28 days after birth by analyzing health records, surveys, and birth data from countries across Sub‑Saharan Africa. The team will work to correct undercounts and fix cases where stillbirths and neonatal deaths have been misclassified so the true scope becomes clearer. They will focus on risk factors like preterm birth, low birthweight, and being small for gestational age and how nutrition before and during pregnancy affects those risks. Results will be used to point to where nutrition programs and clinical care might best reduce late fetal and early newborn deaths.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The work is most relevant to pregnant people and newborns in Sub‑Saharan Africa, especially those experiencing poor maternal nutrition, preterm birth risk, or low birthweight.
Not a fit: People outside the study regions or whose losses are caused by non‑nutritional issues (for example, congenital anomalies or acute infections unrelated to nutrition) may not see direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help target nutrition and prenatal care programs to reduce stillbirths and early newborn deaths in affected communities.
How similar studies have performed: Many prior studies link poor maternal nutrition with preterm birth and low birthweight, but gaps in data quality and misclassification of stillbirths in Sub‑Saharan Africa mean this work aims to fill important measurement and evidence gaps rather than test an entirely new idea.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guillot, Michel — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Guillot, Michel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.