09-06-2006, 12:52 AM
Doctors prohibit consanguineous marriages, especially in cases where there is some kind of disability or a history of some chronic disease in the family. Even then there is a higher rate of such marriages in the Muslim countries. The preference for cousin marriages in countries like Pakistan is unlikely to decline unless there are efforts to create appropriate awareness of potential adverse effects
Marriage is a social institution for the individuals and the trend of marriages varies worldwide. Marriages between close biological kin continue to be pre-dominant in many countries. It is estimated that globally about 15-20 per cent of the human population live in communities with a preference for consanguineous marriage, which is commonly known as cousin marriages.
Though, the doctors, especially in cases where there is some kind of disability or a history of some chronic disease in the family, prohibit the consanguineous marriages but they have a higher rate in the Muslim countries, which still boasts a traditional and conservative society. Populations in the Middle East, North Africa, South West Asia and South India, where total consanguinity rates range between 20-50 per cent of all marriages. Consanguineous marriages are extremely common in Pakistan. Approximately 60 per cent of marriages are reported to be consanguineous and 80 per cent of these are between first cousins. First cousin marriage has become a controversial medical issue and it needs to be addressed. Though, there has been a lot of efforts to create awareness amongst people about the risks associated with the cousin marriage, still people have not been able to realise the intensity of the issue. Consanguineous marriage is ultimately leading to increase morbidity and mortality rate in our country. Cousin marriage has many social and health related disadvantages, therefore, it is the contention that they should not be encouraged in our society.
The orthodox people who get benefited by this pattern of marriage do claim that this pattern of marriage has many advantages. Their main intention is to retain land and property within the family. Besides this they claim that, the expectations of both the family are less and realistic. In such situation, the family is not at risk of penalisation for perceived or short coming of dowry. In addition, the critics assert that relationship between the two families become stronger and the couple get support from them. Premarital negotiations regarding financial matters of marriage are more easily conducted. However, they totally ignore the medical side of getting people married in the same family.
The medical experts after huge research and surveys came up with a long list of disadvantages. In addition to a number of social and financial problems, the biggest risk is that of health problems. It is a well-known fact that the congenital problems are caused by consanguine marriages. The defect and abnormalities are divine (God's willing), however, they are more common in cousin marriages and there is a greater chance for genetic problem. Till now many researches have shown that there is a strong association between consanguineous and health problems. A research shows that congenital disorders including neural tube defect, recessive nonsyndromal hear loss; decreased IQ score and increased intellectual disability are common amongst the couples that were related. In addition, the morbidity and mortality rate is high in such cases. It has been observed that the prevalence of abnormal babies in such families is high and the women go for multiple pregnancies with the hope that she might get other healthy children. Multiple pregnancies affect the health of the mother ultimately reflecting badly on the whole family's health.
The preference for cousin marriages in countries like Pakistan is unlikely to decline unless there are efforts to create appropriate awareness of potential adverse effects through further studies on this issue. Since the genetic disease may become a major health problem, it would be appropriate to initiate programmes, to determine the most prevalent genetic diseases in different parts of the country and in different sub-communities. Health care providers can play vital role to resolve this issue, and the nurses and doctors need to be fully equipped with the knowledge about genetics. Genetic counseling should be given to the nursing and medical students so that they get-in-depth knowledge of this issue and while doing the counseling can openly explain the dire consequences to the couples. The screening and counseling services should be easily available to the high-risk population of the country.
Beside this more researches should be done on this issue so that the facts are proven, which will help in giving awareness to the society. Moreover, media can be used as a greater source to help and disseminate the messages to prohibit cousin marriages.
***Source: annual medical journal of xzavier I.P.C console, 2004 ed
Marriage is a social institution for the individuals and the trend of marriages varies worldwide. Marriages between close biological kin continue to be pre-dominant in many countries. It is estimated that globally about 15-20 per cent of the human population live in communities with a preference for consanguineous marriage, which is commonly known as cousin marriages.
Though, the doctors, especially in cases where there is some kind of disability or a history of some chronic disease in the family, prohibit the consanguineous marriages but they have a higher rate in the Muslim countries, which still boasts a traditional and conservative society. Populations in the Middle East, North Africa, South West Asia and South India, where total consanguinity rates range between 20-50 per cent of all marriages. Consanguineous marriages are extremely common in Pakistan. Approximately 60 per cent of marriages are reported to be consanguineous and 80 per cent of these are between first cousins. First cousin marriage has become a controversial medical issue and it needs to be addressed. Though, there has been a lot of efforts to create awareness amongst people about the risks associated with the cousin marriage, still people have not been able to realise the intensity of the issue. Consanguineous marriage is ultimately leading to increase morbidity and mortality rate in our country. Cousin marriage has many social and health related disadvantages, therefore, it is the contention that they should not be encouraged in our society.
The orthodox people who get benefited by this pattern of marriage do claim that this pattern of marriage has many advantages. Their main intention is to retain land and property within the family. Besides this they claim that, the expectations of both the family are less and realistic. In such situation, the family is not at risk of penalisation for perceived or short coming of dowry. In addition, the critics assert that relationship between the two families become stronger and the couple get support from them. Premarital negotiations regarding financial matters of marriage are more easily conducted. However, they totally ignore the medical side of getting people married in the same family.
The medical experts after huge research and surveys came up with a long list of disadvantages. In addition to a number of social and financial problems, the biggest risk is that of health problems. It is a well-known fact that the congenital problems are caused by consanguine marriages. The defect and abnormalities are divine (God's willing), however, they are more common in cousin marriages and there is a greater chance for genetic problem. Till now many researches have shown that there is a strong association between consanguineous and health problems. A research shows that congenital disorders including neural tube defect, recessive nonsyndromal hear loss; decreased IQ score and increased intellectual disability are common amongst the couples that were related. In addition, the morbidity and mortality rate is high in such cases. It has been observed that the prevalence of abnormal babies in such families is high and the women go for multiple pregnancies with the hope that she might get other healthy children. Multiple pregnancies affect the health of the mother ultimately reflecting badly on the whole family's health.
The preference for cousin marriages in countries like Pakistan is unlikely to decline unless there are efforts to create appropriate awareness of potential adverse effects through further studies on this issue. Since the genetic disease may become a major health problem, it would be appropriate to initiate programmes, to determine the most prevalent genetic diseases in different parts of the country and in different sub-communities. Health care providers can play vital role to resolve this issue, and the nurses and doctors need to be fully equipped with the knowledge about genetics. Genetic counseling should be given to the nursing and medical students so that they get-in-depth knowledge of this issue and while doing the counseling can openly explain the dire consequences to the couples. The screening and counseling services should be easily available to the high-risk population of the country.
Beside this more researches should be done on this issue so that the facts are proven, which will help in giving awareness to the society. Moreover, media can be used as a greater source to help and disseminate the messages to prohibit cousin marriages.
***Source: annual medical journal of xzavier I.P.C console, 2004 ed
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