The 13th annual State of the World's Mothers report by the Save the Children foundation, out today, examines the well-being of mothers and their children in 165 countries, based on a range of measures, including mothers' education, infant mortality and breastfeeding rates. Norway tops the overall list of best places to be a mother and ranks among the very best on contraceptive use, female education and political representation. Of 73 developing nations on the table, which account for 95% of child deaths, the Save the Children report rates only four as "very good" for child nutrition. The US is rated 25th, with the report pointing to maternal death rates 15 times higher than those in Greece and infant mortality four times greater than in Iceland. Of the bottom 10 nations, four have seen an increase in stunted growth in children caused by poor nutrition over the past 20 years.
– Good news for American moms: The United States is a slightly better place to be a mother than it was last year, according to Save the Children's 13th annual report on the topic. The US rose from 31st to 25th place in its look at 165 countries. For the best places to be called Mom, look to Nordic countries: Norway took top honors, followed by Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Denmark, reports the Guardian. Niger brings up the rear, below Afghanistan, Yemen, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali. Among the deciding factors: infant and mother mortality, breastfeeding rates, nutrition, female education, and maternity-leave policies. USA Today reports that America's rise is credited largely to increases in mothers' educational rates, but it's not all good news. Some of the gloomier points: The US is No. 1 among industrialized nations when it comes to maternal deaths, with a rate of one in 2,100; the death rate for children under five is eight in 1,000, ranking us alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina; and our maternity-leave policies lag far behind those of other developed countries.