evidence: Conclusion The number of ANC visits was considered to be inadequate with substantial variation among the studied countries. Comprehensive interventions on scaling uptake of ANC are needed among the low-performing countries. Particular attention should be given to women of low economic status and from rural areas. [...] ANC provided by non-health professionals such as traditional birth attendants was excluded from the present analysis. [...] Therefore, regional and country-specific maternal health programme interventions are required to address the barriers of adequate ANC visits. Moreover, health programmes should target women from rural areas, without schooling, no outside home occupation, from low household economic status, non-first-time pregnancy and had no access to media.