WHO recommendation: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for prevention of pre-eclampsia and its complications

Overview

Improving care for women during pregnancy and around the time of childbirth to prevent and treat pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is a necessary step towards the achievement of the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Efforts to prevent and reduce morbidity and mortality due to these conditions can help address the profound inequities in maternal and perinatal health globally. To achieve this, healthcare providers, health managers, policymakers and other stakeholders need up-to-date and evidence-informed recommendations to guide clinical policies and practices.

This recommendation is a revalidation of the previous recommendation on calcium supplementation issued in 2016 in the WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience.