Almost five in every 1000 Malay babies were stillborn last year, according to data from the Registry of Births and Deaths.

Fewer than three in every 1000 Chinese babies were stillborn and four in every 1000 Indian babies.

Dr Julianah Abu Wong, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, told the Straits Times that she has seen cases of Malay women turning up at hospitals only on the day of delivery without receiving prenatal care and opting to deliver subsequent babies at home.

Mothers-to-be need prenatal care to check for conditions like diabetes and keep them under control to reduce labour complications and risks of premature or abnormal babies, she said.

``Many Malay-Moslem parents would not go for tests to check if their babies have Down's syndrome, for example, as abortion is not an option,'' she was quoted as saying.

Malays also have the highest number of infant deaths within seven days of delivery: 6.51 per 1000 live births compared with 2.94 among Chinese and 5.62 among Indians.

Jazlan said some patients said they cannot afford prenatal care costs of about S$300 (US$177).

Taking care of a child with abnormalities is more difficult and costly, she advised.

Fourteen per cent of Singapore's predominantly Chinese population is Malay and 6 per cent Indian.

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