Key findings

- Single interventions only marginally improved the numbers of women attending four antenatal visits. 

- Single interventions led to modest improvements in the number of women who had at least one antenatal visit and who delivered in a health facility. 

- There was no difference in the number of women attending four or more antenatal visits, maternal deaths, baby deaths, the number of deliveries in a health facility or the number of women who received intermittent preventive treatment for malaria, comparing one intervention with a combination of interventions. 

Background

Healthcare during pregnancy is a priority because poor antenatal attendance is associated with delivery of low birthweight babies and more newborn deaths. Antenatal care also provides opportunity for nutritional and health checks, such as whether a woman has a disease like malaria or has been exposed to infectious diseases such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or syphilis which may be transmitted to the baby if not managed appropriately.