Health awareness and consequences of consanguineous marriages: a community-based study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This community-based study was done to assess the awareness of people regarding the ill effects of consanguinity and to observe its association with various sociodemographic variables and complications among children. METHODS: Houses were chosen by systematic random sampling method and any married person in each household was interviewed. RESULTS: Only 35 (18.7%) out of 187 participants were aware of health hazards associated with consanguineous marriages. The prevalence of consanguineous marriages was found to be 23 (12.3%). History of consanguineous marriage was seen significantly more among illiterates (P = .05) and respondents with parental history of consanguinity (P < .001). The mean age at marriage was found to be significantly lower among women married consanguineously (P = .05). Congenital anomalies (P = .02) and low birth weight (P = .05) was seen significantly more among children with parental history of consanguinity. CONCLUSION: Large-scale awareness campaigns are needed to address the ill effects of this seemingly innocuous cultural practice.