Health effects of consanguinity in Pondicherry.

ABSTRACT

PIP: In 1978, pediatricians analyzed data on 1000 mothers at the Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital in Pondicherry, India, and followed their newborns for 3 months to determine prevalence and type of consanguinity and its effects on morbidity and mortality. Consanguinity prevalence was 30.8%. It was more common among the rural population than the urban population (35.6% vs. 25.9%; p .001) and among Hindus than Christians or Muslims (32.2% vs. 14.1% and 13.3%, respectively; p = .004). Consanguinity occurred more often among the Harijan caste (37.5%) than the non-Brahmins (30.8%) and Brahmins (27.7%). The inbreeding coefficient was highest among the Harijans (0.0258), followed by non-Brahmins (0.0220) and Brahmins (0.0204). First cousin marriages predominated (47.4%), especially boy with mother's brother's daughter, followed by marriages between more distant relatives (29.2%) and uncle-niece marriages (23.4%). Neonatal mortality was greater, but not significantly so, in consanguineous marriages than nonconsanguineous marriages (63.8 vs. 48.5). Mortality of infants less than 1 year old was significantly greater in consanguineous marriages than nonconsanguineous marriages (97.8 vs. 59.7; p = .007). Further, fetal deaths occurred more often in consanguineous marriages than nonconsanguineous marriages (4.2 vs. 2.8; p .01). Total morbidity, especially infections/septicemia and jaundice, was significantly higher in consanguineous marriages than nonconsanguineous marriages (176.1 vs. 67.2; p .001). No significant difference occurred in the prevalence of congenital malformations and chromosomal and genetic disorders. the number of abnormal births was small, though. Consanguinity did not affect fertility (total fertility for both groups, 2.8). These results suggested that consanguinity contributes considerably to infant mortality and morbidity.