Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Malika, who is eight months pregnant, will likely bury the placenta (“the globe of the origin of the soul”) in a special location designed to protect the baby, according to Cambodian tradition. The burial place is guarded by a spiky plant to prevent evil spirits from interfering with the baby. In rural Cambodia, a tradition called “mother roasting” is practiced after birth, which entails the mother sitting on a cot above charcoals to sweat out toxins. Only 44% of Cambodian births are attended by a skilled health professional. Cambodia ranks low on the Mother’s Index–134 out of 164 countries.