Prenatal care in developing counties: the World Health Organization technical working group on antenatal care

As part of its work to help define and strengthen prenatal care, the World Health Organization convened a Working Group in November 1994 to formulate recommendations for prenatal care at the health center level. The Group agreed on the timing and content of a minimal number of visits for all women, as well as risk factors and medical conditions that should receive special care. In addition, several over-riding themes came out of the discussions. These included the need for prenatal care to be tailored to each woman's circumstances, the importance of developing a delivery plan appropriate to the woman's situation, the need to make prenatal care part of a functioning health care system in order for it to be effective, the appropriateness of the midwife as provider of prenatal care, and the need to educate and empower the entire community to address the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Operational research and evaluation of prenatal care practices are underway to identify the most effective and efficient ways to provide these services.