The relationship between consanguineous marriage and death in fetus and infants

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in rural and urban areas of Iran, the aim of this study was to identify its role in increasing fetal and infant deaths.
• METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which 494 mothers with more than one exceptional child (mentally retarded and physically-dynamically disabled) or with normal children were selected based on multi-stage random sampling method. Data was gathered using the features of parents with more than one exceptional child questionnaire. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire was acceptable. Hierarchical log-linear method was used for statistical analysis.
• RESULTS: Consanguineous marriage significantly increased the number of births of exceptional children. Moreover, there was a significant relation between the history of fetal/infant death and belonging to the group. There was a significant relation between consanguineous marriage and the history of fetal/infant death which means consanguineous marriage increased the prevalence of fetal/infant death in parents with exceptional children rather than in parents with normal children.
• CONCLUSIONS: The rate of fetal/infant death in exceptional births of consanguineous marriages was higher than that of non-consanguineous marriages.
• KEYWORDS: Consanguinity, Child, Exceptional, Disabled Children, Abortion, Induced, Stillbirth