A University of Saskatchewan Professor says women in some developing countries where severe gender inequality exists are over 50-percent more likely to have still births.

Nazeem Muhajarine’s study of about 200 countries found about 35 nations in Africa, Southern Asia, Nigeria and Pakistan have extremely high still birth rates.

They are over 40-times higher than countries with the lowest percentages and the study suggests societal factors play a large role

Muhajarine points out poverty, poor nutrition and a lack of professional health care during pregnancies and during deliveries are major factors.

The College of Medicine Professor and epidemiology researcher notes women in the worst countries for still births need access to education, good food and proper prenatal as well as professional presence during deliveries.

He also calls for cultural changes in these nations ensuring equal opportunities for employment and not forcing very young women to get married.

The World Health Organization’s goal is to reduce still births to a level that would see decreases of about 400-percent in developing countries by 2030 and Muhajarine feels all of these areas must be addressed to meet that goal.

The study points out successful births are much less expensive than still births and suggests a reinvestment of that money into services needed to prevent the high percentage of still births in developing countries.