Upata, Venezuela

Under the social initiative “Niño Jesus,” the Venezuelan government completed several projects in 2010 aimed at improving conditions for pregnant women. The initiative offers services to women that were previously unaffordable, including high level ultrasounds, testing fetuses for illness and deformities and genetic testing. With 95% of Venezuelan births attended by a skilled health professional and 17% participation of women in national government, Venezuela falls at 65 on the Mother’s Index. It received low scores in women’s economic status, with women earning 48 cents for every dollar made by men.