title: Consanguinity and neonatal death: a nested case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although numerous studies have found higher rates of abortion and still births following consanguinity (familial marriages), the question of whether consanguinity significantly increases the risk of neonatal death has inadequately been addressed.This study aims to evaluate familial marriage effects on neonatal death in rural areas in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this nested case-control study, 6900 newbornswho were born in rural areas of Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Province (South-West of Iran)were followed till the end of neonatal period, and neonatal death was the outcome of interest. Subsequently 97 cases and 97 controls were selected in study cohort by using risk set sampling model. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were estimated by usinga conditional logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the final model, prematurity (OR = 5.57), low birthweight (LBW) (OR = 7.68), consanguinity (first cousins) (OR = 5.23), C-section (OR = 7.27), birth rank more than 3 (OR = 6.95) and birthsinterval less than 24 months (OR = 4.65) showed significant statistical association with neonatal mortality (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our findings, after adjusting the effects of other significant risk factors, familial marriageto first cousins is considered asan important risk factor for neonatal death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, YasujUniversity of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaman
authors.affiliation: HealthDeputy, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahshid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gholami Taramsari
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Related social and Behavioral Sciences Research, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holakouie Naieni
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunesian
keywords: Consanguinity; Iran; Neonatal Death; Nested Case- Control Study; Rural Areas