This is a Health Evidence Network (HEN) evidence report on antenatal care (ANC). This report is a supplement to the 2003 HEN report on the same subject (http://www.euro.who.int/Document/e82996.pdf). It is a review of the best available evidence in the scientific literature regarding ANC interventions. It identifies evidence on effective ANC interventions, as well as on those that are not effective but still used, perhaps because of tradition. Additionally, it identifies interventions whose effectiveness is still unknown. HEN, initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, is an information service for public health and health care decision-makers in the WHO European Region. Other interested parties might also benefit from HEN. This HEN evidence report is a commissioned work and the contents are the responsibility of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official policies of WHO/Europe. The reports were subjected to international review, managed by the HEN team.