Objective: To better understand underlying factors of peripartum mortality we assessed variations in mortality by Robson 10-group classification. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Prospectively collected perinatal e-registry data from 16 hospitals in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. Population: All women aged 13-49 who gave birth to a live or stillborn baby >1000g between July 2021 and December 2022. Methods: We compared peripartum mortality risk by Robson group and calculated proportional contributions to mortality. We assessed interactions between mortality and Caesarean sections using multivariable logistic regression and post-estimations margins. Main Outcome Measures: Peripartum mortality, defined as intrapartum stillbirths and very early (≤24 hours after birth) neonatal deaths. Results: We included 80 663 babies born to 78 085 women, of which 1 706 were intrapartum stillbirths and 617 very early neonatal deaths. Peripartum mortality was 5.2% (Benin), 1.6% (Malawi), 1.1% (Tanzania), and 3.7% (Uganda). The largest contributor to intrapartum stillbirths (27.8%) and very early neonatal deaths (23.3%) was Robson group 3 (multipara with cephalic term singleton in spontaneous labour) followed by group 10 (preterm birth). Intrapartum stillbirth risk in breech presentation (groups 6 and 7) was 5.1% in nullipara and 11.1% in multipara. A Caesarean section halved the odds of peripartum mortality in breech presentation in primipara (0.46; 95% CI 0.22-0.95). Conclusions: Our findings indicate a high share of peripartum mortality in lower obstetric risk groups and high mortality in breech deliveries and preterm births. This underscores the need to intensify actions to improve labour management.