A reconsideration of the factors affecting birth outcome in Pakistani Muslim families in Britain.
Over recent years, Bradford has had a consistently high perinatal mortality rate (PNMR), especially amongst its Asian population, 66% of whom originate from Pakistan. There is a high incidence of consanguineous marriages reported among Pakistani and Muslim couples. Often, this observation is used to explain their higher PNMR and congenital malformation rates. The factors affecting birth outcome in Pakistani women are complex and interrelated. Socioeconomic, genetic, biological and environmental factors all contribute to adverse birth outcome. In addition, these are complicated by discrimination, communication barriers and culture blaming. The aim of this paper is to challenge midwives and other health professionals to reconsider the overwhelming emphasis placed on consanguinity as a factor affecting birth outcome, and to recognise the impact and interplay of other confounding variables.
Proctor
S R
SR
Smith
I J
IJ
D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007514:Islam; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology