Question

What is consanguinity? What is the role, classification, socio demographics,  health risks of  consanguinity?

Answer 1

Consanguinity:

Definition: Consanguinity is defined as the union between 2 individuals who are related as second cousins or closer.

• Consanguinity is classified as first degree, second degree, and third degree.
• Now let us discuss about First degree consanguinity.
• Consanguinous marriages came into existance as it is common in  some geographic regions, due to socioeconomic reasons like to keep money with in the family, low dowry, safe, less chances of break ups, ethnical issues, religious issues, poliitcal issues and commonly seen in some tradition or culture.
• The socio demographics of consanguinity include - more prevalent in rural areas, less age at marriage, low educational status of mother, low occupational status of husband.
• Health impacts of consanguinity includes still births, congenital birth defects or disorders, mental retadation, neonatal diabetes, blood disorders like hemophilia, sickle cell disease, thalssemia,etc, Cystic fibrosis, Chronic renal failure.
• First cousin marriages are more popular.
• Some marriages are between double first cousins i.e.,your cousin's partners parents are blood relatives.
• Even if not cousins, most marriages are seen with in the same clan.
• The risk of genetic illness in children - First cousins-4% and double first cousins-6%.
• Role of nursing in consanguinity includes counselling regarding adverse effects on children, health education, motivating to undergo antenatal screening, carrier status of expecting mothers, specific genetic advise,adoption in case of homozygous couples for a particular genetic condition.

 

Consanguinity:

• Consanguinity is defined as the union between 2 individuals who are related as second cousins or closer.