WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience

Within the continuum of reproductive health care, antenatal care provides a platform for important health-care functions, including health promotion, screening and diagnosis, and disease prevention. It has been established that, by implementing timely and appropriate evidence-based practices, antenatal care can save lives. Endorsed, by the United Nations Secretary-General, this is a comprehensive WHO guideline on routine antenatal care for pregnant women and adolescent girls. It aims to complement existing WHO guidelines on the management of specific pregnancy-related complications. The guidance aims to capture the complex nature of the antenatal care issues surrounding health-care practices and delivery, and to prioritise person-centred health and well-being - not only the prevention of death and morbidity - in accordance with a human rights-based approach.