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Every year Save the Children releases a State of the World's Mother (SOTWM) report wherein they list out the places in the world best suited to be a mother. Norway managed to top the list yet again with Niger replacing Afghanistan to take the last place from last's year report. The United States were 25th on the list.

Along with the annual standings, this year's report paid special attention to the issue of malnutrition of children.  The report stated that one out of every four children in the world is malnourished and stunted.  Owing to very little access of proper food and nutrition, these children grow up with underdeveloped brains and bodies. The report states that 2.6 million children and 100,000 mothers die every year because of malnutrition. The ones that survive continue to battle the physical disabilities and mental impairments due to stunting. In countries like Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi, the stunting rate is a whopping sixty percent.

One of the best ways of fighting malnutrition, as suggested by the report is breastfeeding. More than a million lives can be saved if mothers breastfeed their children. However, the report states the USA as the least favorable place where a mother breastfeeds her children. Other ways to fight malnutrition as suggested by the report include investing in girls' education, investing in frontline health workers, maintaining better hygiene and supplementing meals with iron foliates, vitamin A and zinc.

Click here to view the report