Millions of newborns die every year, though easily preventable

This Mother's Day, a reminder that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the worst place in the world to be a mother or child, Save the Children researchers have confirmed. (10 worst and best)

The "Mothers' Index" in the report ranks 125 nations according to 10 gauges of well-being. Each year, according to the report, more than a half-million women die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth difficulties, 2 million babies die within their first 24 hours, 2 million more die within their first month and 3 million are stillborn.

Causes of death in the developing world were dramatically different from those in the developed world, the report said. In industrialized nations deaths were most likely to result from babies being born too small or too early, while in the developing world about half of newborn deaths were from infection, tetanus and diarrhea.

The report said almost all newborn and maternal deaths take place in developing nations -- 99 percent and 98 percent, respectively.

"All children, no matter where they are born, deserve a healthy start in life," Melinda Gates wrote in a foreword to the report, which was funded in part by the foundation she runs with her husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

"It's tragic that millions of newborns die every year, especially when these deaths are so easily preventable," Gates wrote. "Three out of four newborn deaths could be avoided with simple, low-cost tools that already exist, such as antibiotics for pneumonia, sterile blades to cut umbilical cords and knit caps to keep babies warm."

CNN