WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience

Published by World Health Organization on Apr 3, 2025

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Abstract

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PICOS

PICO 10.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
All diet and/or physical activity/exercise interventions
Comparator
Standard/other care
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Giving women their own case notes to carry during pregnancy
Intervention
Women carrying their own case notes
Comparator
Control (facility-held case notes)
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
P6 Acupressure
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Women during pregnancy
Intervention
Antibiotic
Comparator
No treatment
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Test accuracy for diagnosing anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dL)
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 10.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Nutrition education during pregnancy
Comparator
Control (no nutritional education or normal care)
Outcomes

PICO 10.2

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Auricular acupressure
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Asymptomatic bacteriuria diagnosis
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 10.3

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Acustimulation therapy at P6 point
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.3

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Screening for intimate partner violence
Comparator
Usual antenatal care
Outcomes

PICO 10.3

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Balanced protein/energy supplementation
Comparator
Control or no intervention in pregnancy
Outcomes

PICO 10.4

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
High protein supplementation
Comparator
Control
Outcomes

PICO 10.4

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Traditional acupuncture
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.5

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
P6 Acupuncture
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.6

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ginger
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.7

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Lemon oil
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.8

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Mint oil
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.9

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Chamomile
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.10

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Vitamin B6
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.11

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
P6 Acupressure
Comparator
Control (vitamin B6)
Outcomes

PICO 10.12

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Traditional acupuncture
Comparator
Control (P6 acupuncture)
Outcomes

PICO 10.13

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ginger
Comparator
P6 Acupressure
Outcomes

PICO 10.14

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ginger
Comparator
Chamomile
Outcomes

PICO 10.15

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ginger
Comparator
Vitamin B6
Outcomes

PICO 10.16

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Vitamin B6 (high dose)
Comparator
Vitamin B6 (low dose)
Outcomes

PICO 10.17

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ginger
Comparator
Metoclopramide
Outcomes

PICO 10.18

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Doxylamine and pyridoxine
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.19

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Metoclopramide
Comparator
Control (placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 10.20

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ondansetron
Comparator
Metoclopramide
Outcomes

PICO 10.21

Population
Women in early pregnancy with nausea and vomiting
Intervention
Ondansetron
Comparator
Pyridoxine-doxylamine
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Women during prrgnancy with recurrent urinary track infections
Intervention
Nitrofurantoin and close surveillance
Comparator
Control (close surveillance alone)
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Any supplements containing iron
Comparator
Same supplements without iron or no treatment/placebo (no iron or placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Routine fetal movement counting
Comparator
Mixed or undefined fetal movement counting
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
MLCC
Comparator
Other models
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Pregnant women with heartburn
Intervention
Any pharmaceutical treatment
Comparator
Control (placebo or no treatment)
Outcomes

PICO 20.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Tape measurement
Comparator
Clinical palpation
Outcomes

PICO 20.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Any intermittent iron regimen (with or without other vitamins and minerals)
Comparator
Daily regimen (with same vitamins and minerals)
Outcomes

PICO 20.2

Population
Pregnant women with heartburn
Intervention
Pharmacological treatment
Comparator
Lifestyle change
Outcomes

PICO 20.3

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Antenatal cardiotocography (CTG)
Comparator
No routine antenatal CTG
Outcomes

PICO 20.3

Population
Pregnant women with heartburn
Intervention
Acupuncture
Comparator
Control (no treatment)
Outcomes

PICO 20.4

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Early ultrasound scan (routine/ revealed)
Comparator
Selective/concealed ultrasound in early pregnancy
Outcomes

PICO 20.5

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Routine ultrasound
Comparator
No/concealed/ selective ultrasound
Outcomes

PICO 20.6

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
All routine Doppler ultrasound
Comparator
No Doppler ultrasound
Outcomes

PICO 20.7

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Multiple Doppler ultrasound assessments
Comparator
No Doppler ultrasound
Outcomes

PICO 20.8

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Single Doppler ultrasound assessment
Comparator
No Doppler ultrasound
Outcomes

PICO 30.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Anti-D administration in pregnancy
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 30.1

Population
Group versus conventional antenatal care for women
Intervention
Group ANC
Comparator
Individual antenatal care (adjusted data)
Outcomes

PICO 30.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Calcium supplementation
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 30.1

Population
Pregnant women with leg cramp
Intervention
Oral magnesium
Comparator
Placebo/no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 30.2

Population
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy
Intervention
Oral calcium
Comparator
No treatment
Outcomes

PICO 30.3

Population
Pregnant women with leg cramp
Intervention
Oral vitamin B1 and B6
Comparator
No treatment
Outcomes

PICO 30.4

Population
Pregnant women with leg cramps
Intervention
Oral calcium
Comparator
Oral vitamin C
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Women during pregnancy
Intervention
Antihelminthics
Comparator
Control (no routine anthelminthics)
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Community-based interventions
Comparator
Control
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Any exercise + usual ANC
Comparator
Usual ANC
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Vitamin A alone
Comparator
Control (placebo or no treatment)
Outcomes

PICO 40.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Bellybra
Comparator
Tubigrip
Outcomes

PICO 40.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Communication and support provided to women through community mobilization and home visits during pregnancy
Comparator
Standard care
Outcomes

PICO 40.3

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Acupuncture + usual ANC
Comparator
Usual ANC
Outcomes

PICO 40.4

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Acupuncture + usual ANC
Comparator
Individualized physiotherapy + usual ANC
Outcomes

PICO 40.5

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Multimodal intervention
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Pregnant women with constipation
Intervention
Fibre supplementation
Comparator
No intervention
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Women during pregnancy
Intervention
TT vaccine
Comparator
Influenza vaccine
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Zinc supplementation
Comparator
No zinc (with or without placebo)
Outcomes

PICO 50.2

Population
Pregnant women with constipation
Intervention
Stimulant laxatives
Comparator
Bulk-forming laxatives
Outcomes

PICO 60.1

Population
Pregnant women with varicose veins and leg oedema
Intervention
Rutoside
Comparator
Placebo
Outcomes

PICO 60.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
13–15 micronutrients
Comparator
Iron (with or without folic acid)
Outcomes

PICO 60.2

Population
Pregnant women with varicose veins and leg oedema
Intervention
External pneumatic intermittent compression
Comparator
Rest
Outcomes

PICO 60.3

Population
Pregnant women with varicose veins and leg oedema
Intervention
Reflexology
Comparator
Rest
Outcomes

PICO 60.4

Population
Pregnant women with varicose veins and leg oedema
Intervention
Water immersion
Comparator
Leg elevation
Outcomes

PICO 60.5

Population
Pregnant women with varicose veins and leg oedema
Intervention
Foot massage
Comparator
Routine care
Outcomes

PICO 70.1

Population
Alternative versus standard packages of antenatal care for low-risk pregnancy
Intervention
FANC model
Comparator
Standard care model
Outcomes

PICO 70.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Pyridoxine (B6)
Comparator
Control
Outcomes

PICO 80.1

Population
Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy
Intervention
Any vitamin E and C supplementation
Comparator
Control (Placebo or no treatment)
Outcomes

PICO 80.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Vitamin C supplementation alone
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 90.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Vitamin D supplementation alone
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 90.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Vitamin D plus calcium supplementation
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 100.1

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Caffeinated coffee
Comparator
Decaffeinated coffee
Outcomes

PICO 100.2

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
High caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.3

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Moderate caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.4

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Low caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.5

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Higher caffeine intake
Comparator
Lower caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.6

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Very high caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.7

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
High caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.8

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Moderate caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.9

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Low caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.10

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Any caffeine intake
Comparator
Low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.11

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
High caffeine intake
Comparator
Low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.12

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Moderate caffeine intake
Comparator
Low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes

PICO 100.13

Population
Pregnant women
Intervention
Low caffeine intake
Comparator
Very low or no caffeine intake
Outcomes