title: CHANGES IN MARRIAGE PATTERNS AMONG THE ARAB COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL OVER A 60-YEAR PERIOD.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends of various types of consanguineous marriage among the Arab community in Israel over a long time period (1948-2007) by religion and educational level. Data were collected by face-to-face interview of 3173 Arab couples living in Israel in 2007 and 2008. The trend in consanguineous marriages was found to decrease significantly over successive time periods, from 42.5% to 30.9% (p=0.001), and the prevalence of first-cousin and closer marriages decreased, from 23% to 12.7%. Consanguinity was found to be significantly related to religion (p=0.001) and wife's level of education (p=0.028).
authors.affiliation: *The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center,Kfar Qari',Israel.
authors.forename: Rajech
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharkia
authors.affiliation: ‡Child Neurology and Development Center,Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center,Hadera,Israel.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahajnah
authors.affiliation: *The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center,Kfar Qari',Israel.
authors.forename: Esmael
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Athamny
authors.affiliation: ¶The Galilee Society - The Arabs National Society for Research and Health Services,Shefa-Amr 20200,Israel.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: ¶The Galilee Society - The Arabs National Society for Research and Health Services,Shefa-Amr 20200,Israel.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheikh-Muhammad
authors.affiliation: *The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center,Kfar Qari',Israel.
authors.forename: Abdelnaser
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D003241:Consanguinity; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D012067:Religion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors