Canada edges up State of the World's Moms ranking
5/10/2012
CTVNews.ca Staff
Canada has moved up a notch this year in Save the Children's 13th State of the World's Mothers report, thanks to improvements in parental leave policies.
Canada is now ranked the 19th best place in the world to be a mother, up one spot from last year's ranking.
The ranking, which compares 165 countries, looks at factors such as:
- mother's health
- women's education
- women's economic status
- child health
- child nutrition
The report says Canada's improvement is mainly due to a recent increase in the number of women members of Parliament, and the inclusion of parental leave along with maternity leave.
The best place to be a mother is Norway, according to the report. Compared to that country, Canada needs to improve in areas of women's education and economic success, as well as parental benefits.
Norway's under-5 mortality rate is also half that of Canada's: 3 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 6 deaths per 1,000 live births here. As well, only 72 per cent of Canadian women use "modern methods" of birth control, compared to 82 per cent of Norwegian women.
Save the Children's Patricia Erb notes, though, that Canada rated only a "fair" in an analysis of how developed countries promote breastfeeding.
"Policies and programs must be put in place in all countries to ensure all mothers have the support they need to choose to breastfeed, if they want to. Acting now not only saves lives, but saves dollars as well," she said in a statement.
Norway topped the breastfeeding scorecard. Mothers there can take up to 36 weeks off work after giving birth with 100 per cent of their pay, or 46 weeks with 80 per cent pay. As well, 99 per cent of babies there are breastfed initially and 70 per cent are breastfed exclusively at 3 months.
The United States, meanwhile, ranks last on the breastfeeding scorecard. It is the only economically advanced country – and one of just a handful of countries worldwide – where employers are not required to provide any paid maternity leave after a woman gives birth. As well, only about 35 per cent of babies are being breastfed exclusively at 3 months.
The country of Niger was listed as the worst place to have children. The country is currently in the grip of a hunger crisis which threatens the lives of a million children. In fact, of the 10 countries at the bottom of Save the Children's annual index, seven are in the midst of a food crisis.
Four of those bottom 10 have seen an increase in "stunting" over the past two decades, meaning children's mental and physical growth are permanently stalled because of chronic malnutrition.
In Niger, almost half of the country's children -- 47 per cent -- are affected by stunting and that statistic has shown no improvement in the last 25 years.
Less than a third of births in Niger are attended by skilled health personnel, compared to almost 100 per cent of births in Canada. And in Canada, the risk of dying during pregnancy or birth is 1 in 5,600. In Niger, 1 woman in 16 will die from pregnancy-related causes.
Jeremy
Good job for Moms out there, but I can't help but be depressed with regards to the UN sending a representative to investigate our food supplies, and why in one of the richest nations in the world, that there are over 2,000,000 Canadians without enough food to eat? That is reprehensible, and should immediately be addressed by Harper, but unfortunately Harper only pays attention to CEO's and company executives. Shame on him, and shame on all of us for not doing more. I, for one will be looking into what I can do on a personal level. I think all of us should do the same.
Good job for Moms out there, but I can't help but be depressed with regards to the UN sending a representative to investigate our food supplies, and why in one of the richest nations in the world, that there are over 2,000,000 Canadians without enough food to eat? That is reprehensible, and should immediately be addressed by Harper, but unfortunately Harper only pays attention to CEO's and company executives. Shame on him, and shame on all of us for not doing more. I, for one will be looking into what I can do on a personal level. I think all of us should do the same.
Jeff in Ottawa
@donna There is a huge reason why men don't take as much responsibility for birth control as women do- we can't! For men, there are three options- condom, abstinence, or vasectomy. Women have these options and more- the pill, IUD, sponge, diaphragm... If there was a pill for men I would take it. Some women can't handle the pill and IUD's are usually not recommended unless you have had a child already. Most men are not troglodytes and carry their share in relationships. Yes, there are plenty of dirtbags out there. There are also a lot of nasty, abusive women; but you don't hear about that because men aren't supposed to talk about it. And when they do, a lot of people poo-poo it. Bottom line: Science continues to fail both men and women by not providing a birth control pill for men. And I'm a scientist.
@donna There is a huge reason why men don't take as much responsibility for birth control as women do- we can't! For men, there are three options- condom, abstinence, or vasectomy. Women have these options and more- the pill, IUD, sponge, diaphragm... If there was a pill for men I would take it. Some women can't handle the pill and IUD's are usually not recommended unless you have had a child already. Most men are not troglodytes and carry their share in relationships. Yes, there are plenty of dirtbags out there. There are also a lot of nasty, abusive women; but you don't hear about that because men aren't supposed to talk about it. And when they do, a lot of people poo-poo it. Bottom line: Science continues to fail both men and women by not providing a birth control pill for men. And I'm a scientist.
Ryan, Guelph
There are so many ways our system could be improved. As someone already mentioned, day care is far too expensive. When my wife's one year mat leave ran out, we decided it was both a better choice for our child for my wife to stay home, and the only choice that made economic sense. She wasn't going to go back to her job and have almost nothing to show for it financially, while strangers raised our child. Another suggestion I would make is longer leave if you have a premature baby. Make it so parental leave is up to age 1-year corrected. Those first weeks/months with a premature child are extremely stressful, and taking the parent away earlier from those children in their development can't be good for them.
There are so many ways our system could be improved. As someone already mentioned, day care is far too expensive. When my wife's one year mat leave ran out, we decided it was both a better choice for our child for my wife to stay home, and the only choice that made economic sense. She wasn't going to go back to her job and have almost nothing to show for it financially, while strangers raised our child. Another suggestion I would make is longer leave if you have a premature baby. Make it so parental leave is up to age 1-year corrected. Those first weeks/months with a premature child are extremely stressful, and taking the parent away earlier from those children in their development can't be good for them.
Try Harder Mothers
To @ home mom, the country of Niger also has many stay at home moms, and they rank LAST on the list. You need to get educated and get a job if you want to stop embarassing Canada like this.
To @ home mom, the country of Niger also has many stay at home moms, and they rank LAST on the list. You need to get educated and get a job if you want to stop embarassing Canada like this.
donna
Number of female MPs indicates whether a country suppresses/abuses females or is committed to their full participation in social and power policies and structures, i.e. - rape; child marriages; access to education, health care; equal wages and job opportunities; etc. I agree that good parenting by both parents is best for children but reality is that many males still neglect birth control and abandon the female and resulting child -- something about the macho/sex/virility thing. Again, not as prevalent in better educated and liberal demographics, which is why it parallels female oppression by other indicators. While I'll never regret staying at home for many years with my children, I do miss those pensionable years and the reduced job opportunities reentering the workforce as a mature worker with no recent experience in my field.
Number of female MPs indicates whether a country suppresses/abuses females or is committed to their full participation in social and power policies and structures, i.e. - rape; child marriages; access to education, health care; equal wages and job opportunities; etc. I agree that good parenting by both parents is best for children but reality is that many males still neglect birth control and abandon the female and resulting child -- something about the macho/sex/virility thing. Again, not as prevalent in better educated and liberal demographics, which is why it parallels female oppression by other indicators. While I'll never regret staying at home for many years with my children, I do miss those pensionable years and the reduced job opportunities reentering the workforce as a mature worker with no recent experience in my field.
Duke
Raise your own children instead of turning them over to creeping communism.
Raise your own children instead of turning them over to creeping communism.
Eve
A lot of families have no choice but to have both parents work. Daycare is very expensive and can take up to one parents whole income just to pay for the daycare. Once the children are in school it isn't so bad, but in the mean time you have to put your hours in to advance your ability to become an apprentice, work you way up the ladder, or just make ends meet. Most parents want nothing more than to stay at home and look after their children. I know from first hand experiance it isn't that simple. Please understand working parents and don't be too cynical. Thank you...
A lot of families have no choice but to have both parents work. Daycare is very expensive and can take up to one parents whole income just to pay for the daycare. Once the children are in school it isn't so bad, but in the mean time you have to put your hours in to advance your ability to become an apprentice, work you way up the ladder, or just make ends meet. Most parents want nothing more than to stay at home and look after their children. I know from first hand experiance it isn't that simple. Please understand working parents and don't be too cynical. Thank you...
Sandra
How about encouraging more Dad's to stay at home and raise the kids? Why does Mom always have to be the one to give up her career,etc for a family? Maybe, if PARENTING were encouraged as opposed to mothering, the kids would be better adjusted and feel more secure.
How about encouraging more Dad's to stay at home and raise the kids? Why does Mom always have to be the one to give up her career,etc for a family? Maybe, if PARENTING were encouraged as opposed to mothering, the kids would be better adjusted and feel more secure.
WIll
Yet another study/ranking that has no meaning in the real world. Hint: everything is relative, depending on your culture etc things are very different. Oh, and observer-your anti-harper bias is showing through.
Yet another study/ranking that has no meaning in the real world. Hint: everything is relative, depending on your culture etc things are very different. Oh, and observer-your anti-harper bias is showing through.
Liz
To Observer – this is not about being a good father/parent because the reality is that mothers are still the main caregivers. If you are an equal parent or the main caregiver, than good for you but you would be in the minority not the majority. Raising a child requires parents who have access to resources to help raise those children to the best of their ability which Canada does not have in comparison to other countries.To Dave – Being an MP and a mother just shows that women have been working hard to have careers and a family. It shows that women can have demanding jobs and children. They still see their children, which is why travel costs are so high for MPs.To Dundee – how dare you say we are ditching our children in daycare. Some of us would love to stay at home but the cost of living doesn’t allow us to do that. I would rather stay at home with my kids but I need to work to put food on the table and clothes on my children’s backs. I don’t work to go on vacation and drive fancy cars.To try harder mothers – Not all mothers lye around and do nothing. Most of us also have very good educations and careers. You want us to rank better? Try putting pressure on the government for better resources for mothers, such as better maternity and paternity benefits. Give the whole country a better daycare system so that all mothers have the choice to work if they wish too. Some provinces have daycare that cost so much that you go in debt by working and putting the kids in daycare. Those mothers have no choice but to stay home despite having an education and the desire to work.
To Observer – this is not about being a good father/parent because the reality is that mothers are still the main caregivers. If you are an equal parent or the main caregiver, than good for you but you would be in the minority not the majority. Raising a child requires parents who have access to resources to help raise those children to the best of their ability which Canada does not have in comparison to other countries.To Dave – Being an MP and a mother just shows that women have been working hard to have careers and a family. It shows that women can have demanding jobs and children. They still see their children, which is why travel costs are so high for MPs.To Dundee – how dare you say we are ditching our children in daycare. Some of us would love to stay at home but the cost of living doesn’t allow us to do that. I would rather stay at home with my kids but I need to work to put food on the table and clothes on my children’s backs. I don’t work to go on vacation and drive fancy cars.To try harder mothers – Not all mothers lye around and do nothing. Most of us also have very good educations and careers. You want us to rank better? Try putting pressure on the government for better resources for mothers, such as better maternity and paternity benefits. Give the whole country a better daycare system so that all mothers have the choice to work if they wish too. Some provinces have daycare that cost so much that you go in debt by working and putting the kids in daycare. Those mothers have no choice but to stay home despite having an education and the desire to work.
At Home Mom
at "Try Harder Mothers":you must not be a parent.... I have a job as a stay at home mom of 2 young children and I assure you that I do not have the time to lie "around all day on the couch watching soaps and eating bon-bons." You are sadly misinformed about what a stay at home mom does in the run of a day!
at "Try Harder Mothers":you must not be a parent.... I have a job as a stay at home mom of 2 young children and I assure you that I do not have the time to lie "around all day on the couch watching soaps and eating bon-bons." You are sadly misinformed about what a stay at home mom does in the run of a day!
Observer
So where's the best place in the world to be a father? Why do these studies always have to be so sexist? Why couldn't it just have been about where the best place in the world is to raise a child? P.S We didn't deserve to move up in their rankings
So where's the best place in the world to be a father? Why do these studies always have to be so sexist? Why couldn't it just have been about where the best place in the world is to raise a child? P.S We didn't deserve to move up in their rankings
Dave
What a bunch of crap. We are better moms/mums because we have more women MPs. What has a woman MP got to do with being a mother. Actualy worse. If I were a kid and my mother was an MP or MPP/MLA, I wouldn't see her much. Get real.
What a bunch of crap. We are better moms/mums because we have more women MPs. What has a woman MP got to do with being a mother. Actualy worse. If I were a kid and my mother was an MP or MPP/MLA, I wouldn't see her much. Get real.
Dundee
Economic wealth is not an indicator of anything mother related. Ditching your child in daycare only shows that the daycare is being a good mother to your child. How about helping get mothers at home, to raise their own children, instead of pretending that mothering your kids is second rate to making the all mighty dollar.
Economic wealth is not an indicator of anything mother related. Ditching your child in daycare only shows that the daycare is being a good mother to your child. How about helping get mothers at home, to raise their own children, instead of pretending that mothering your kids is second rate to making the all mighty dollar.
Try harder Mothers
19th place is not very good. I hope Canadian mothers can correct this and get better educated and get themselves a job rather than lying around all day on the couch watching soaps and eating bon-bons.
19th place is not very good. I hope Canadian mothers can correct this and get better educated and get themselves a job rather than lying around all day on the couch watching soaps and eating bon-bons.
montrose
As we are still somewhat English/British in nature in this country, we should spell it Mum, not Mom.This is another Americanism that has crept into our version of the English language.
As we are still somewhat English/British in nature in this country, we should spell it Mum, not Mom.This is another Americanism that has crept into our version of the English language.
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