The State of the World's Mothers:
The Best, Worst Places to be a Mother

Where is the best place in the world to be a mother and a child? Which countries are making progress in increasing child survival rates? What can be done to save lives and improve the health of children and mothers? Save the Children, one of the leading advocates for youth worldwide, has some answers.

According to the organization's eighth annual State of the World's Mothers report, Egypt has made the most progress since 1990 -- and Iraq the least -- in saving the lives of children under 5. For the first time, the report also includes Child Survival Progress Rankings of 60 developing countries, which together account for 94 percent of all child deaths worldwide. The rankings indicate which countries are succeeding and which are failing to save the lives of children under the age of 5.  

Iraq's child mortality rate has increased by a staggering 150 percent since 1990. Some 122,000 Iraqi children died in 2005 before reaching their fifth birthday. More than half of these deaths were among newborn babies in the first month of life.  

On the positive side, Egypt has achieved an impressive 68 percent decline in child deaths in the past 15 years. Investments in health services for mothers and children have helped improve care for pregnant women, made childbirth safer, and increased the use of family planning services.
 
The United States ranks 26th in the world among the best countries to be a mother and a child.
 
"More than 10 million children under age 5 still die each year. That's almost 28,000 a day -- almost all in developing countries," said Save the Children President and CEO Charles MacCormack. "The interventions that can save these lives, such as vaccines, oral rehydration therapy, and insecticide-treated mosquito nets are not expensive. Yet, sadly, many mothers and children lack access to these lifesaving measures."

The report also includes Save the Children's eighth annual "Mothers' Index," which identifies the best and worst countries to be a mother and child -- based on a comprehensive look at child and maternal well-being in 140 countries. More countries are included in this year's Index than in any previous year. Sweden, Iceland and Norway top the rankings this year. The United States places 26th, tied with Hungary, while Niger ranks last.    

Among the report's major findings:

• The three biggest killers of children under 5 worldwide are newborn disorders, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
• Child and maternal death rates are highest in the poorest, most disadvantaged places.
• The majority of child deaths occur in just 10 countries, many with large populations (such as China and India) and others with very high child mortality rates (such as Afghanistan, Angola, and Democratic Republic of the Congo).
• Among developing countries, Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, and Madagascar are making great strides in child survival despite limited financial resources.

To succeed in saving the lives of children under 5, Save the Children recommends that countries ensure the well-being of mothers; invest in basic, low-cost solutions to save children's lives; make health care available to the poorest and most vulnerable mothers and children; and increase funding and improve strategies to provide basic, effective, lifesaving services to those who need it most.

The report also calls on governments to increase their political and financial support for solutions that can help save the lives of mothers, children, and newborns. "It only costs a few dollars to protect young children from conditions that disable or kill millions each year," said MacCormack. "With modest increases in funding, we can help countries reach the poorest with child survival and maternal health services. The United States can provide the leadership that will give mothers and children new hope and opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives."