Consanguineous marriages, and the relationship between consanguineous marriages and abortion, infant mortality in Acipayam, a rural area of Denizli, Turkey

Abstract

Consanguineous marriages are common in Turkey. The rates and types of consanguineous marriages, and their relationship to abortions and infant mortality were investigated in Acipayam, a rural area of Denizli, Turkey. 795 families were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire. The total prevalence of consanguineous marriages is 17.5%. It is found that the first-cousin marriages are slightly higher (10.6%) than the second-cousin marriages (6.9%). Infant mortality and abortion rates in families were higher in the consanguineous marriages than non-consanguineous marriages (infant mortality 19.4%-> 3.5%, abortion 11.5%-> 2.6%, respectively). Also, positive relationship was found between the presence of infant mortality/abortions and consanguineous marriages (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.12-2.49). This study emphasizes the significant effect of consanguineous marriages on the early mortality of the offspring in Acipayam in Denizli, Turkey.