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Is There a Significant Trend in Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriage in Tehran? A Review of Three Generations

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Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

Consanguineous marriage is a common practice in Iran. The present study surveyed the trend in consanguineous marriage across three generations of Iranians. Index cases, consisting of 400 individuals attending the diabetes and osteoporosis clinic in Shariati Hospital, were interviewed. Data on consanguinity status for 1789 marriages within the index cases’ families were obtained. Generation 1 consisted of marriages contracted before 1948, Generation 2 consisted of marriages contracted between 1949 and 1978, and Generation 3 consisted of marriages contracted after 1979. Prevalence of consanguineous marriage within these three generations was 8.8%, 16.6% and 19%, respectively, and represented a significant trend (p < 0.001). First cousin marriage was the most common type of consanguinity (69%). Socioeconomic level of families was not significantly related to having a consanguineous marriage. These data suggest that premarital genetic counseling and mass media efforts are needed to increase public awareness about genetic risks associated with consanguineous marriage.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of the second and third authors’ research theses for their MD degrees. We would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses in the EMRC and Diabetes and Osteoporosis clinics who helped us to conduct this study. Special thanks go to Professor Bernadette Modell and Dr. Pat McCarthy Veach for their critical review of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Tehran, 14176, Iran

    Seyed Mohammad Akrami

  2. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Vahideh Montazeri & Somaieh Rashid Shomali

  3. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ramin Heshmat & Bagher Larijani

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  1. Seyed Mohammad Akrami
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  2. Vahideh Montazeri
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  3. Somaieh Rashid Shomali
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  4. Ramin Heshmat
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  5. Bagher Larijani
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Correspondence to Seyed Mohammad Akrami.

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Akrami, S.M., Montazeri, V., Shomali, S.R. et al. Is There a Significant Trend in Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriage in Tehran? A Review of Three Generations. J Genet Counsel 18, 82–86 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-008-9191-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-008-9191-y

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