Related parents, one of the main causes of child mortality in London borough
One in five child deaths in London’s Redbridge has been caused by consanguinity, a new report reveals. Authorities are concerned that inter-family couples are not sufficiently aware of the dangers of having children.
The Redbridge Council received the latest report regarding child death which highlights that between 2008 and 2016, 19 per cent of child deaths have been caused by chromosomal, genetic or congenital anomalies, as well as other affections associated with consanguineous parents.
According to the report, Redbridge has a diverse ethnic population, and parental consanguinity is reflected in the cases reviewed among the Roma and Irish Gipsy travelling families. But the highest incidence of consanguinity was recorded among Asian groups, particular those of Pakistani descent, which registered a consanguinity rate of 50%.
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The highest incidence was reported between 2008 and 2009 when Redbridge recorded the highest number of consanguineous parents and chromosomal, genetic and congenital anomalies became the number two cause of child mortality in the borough.
While experts say that the number of related parents has gone down and mortality rates caused by consanguineous parents have also fallen to an all-time low, authorities are still worried that the couples do not understand the increased risks of having a child with a disability, or of having a child die under the age of 5.
A 2010 study estimated that one billion people live in communities with a preference for consanguineous marriage and that consanguinity remains a deeply rooted social trend among one-fifth of the world population mostly residing in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa, as well as among emigrants from these communities that are now living in North America, Europe and Australia. 20 to 50 per cent of marriages in South India, West Asia and North Africa are consanguineous.
In clinical genetics, a consanguineous marriage is defined as a union between two individuals who are related as second cousins or closer. The offspring of consanguineous unions may be at increased risk for recessive disorders, while the chances for birth defects are 2–3% points higher than for the general population. Furthermore, stillbirths and infant mortality rates are slightly higher. Mental retardation or learning disability are also of concern.
Premarital counselling together with genetic counselling and screening is recommended, and couples should be informed about the implications of consanguineous marriages and the impact on the child’s health.
First cousin and other more remote categories of consanguineous marriage are permissible under civil legislation virtually throughout the world, with the notable exception of the USA where restrictive laws have been passed in 31 states.
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