Consanguineous marriages in a Saudi population and the effect of inbreeding on prenatal and postnatal mortality.
Consanguineous marriages are strongly favoured in the Saudi population. A population-based study of consanguineous marriages was conducted in the Riyadh area. The prevalence rate of consanguineous marriages was 51.3% with an average inbreeding coefficient of 0.02265, which is high compared with many other countries. The most important variables affecting inbreeding were the regional background of the family (p < 0.001) and the level of education, which was inversely associated with consanguineous marriage (p < 0.001). Perinatal and postnatal mortalities were not significantly different between consanguineous and non-consanguineous families.
al Husain
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
al Bunyan
M
M
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D003241:Consanguinity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology