Role of Consanguineous Marriages in Mental Retardation; A Study in a Rural Population

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Shool of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Medical Student, Shool of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: According to general statistics, almost 3% of children at school age are mental retard. Many risk factors, especially consanguineous marriages, may lead to these disorders.Methods: In a case-control study performed in Khominishahr rural areas, Isfahan in 2009, all of the patients with mental retardation were entered. In this study, 206 patients and 412 age and sex matched controls were studied. Data gathering was carried out through face to face interview by an investigator.Finding: 133 patients (64.6%) of case group and 128 indivisuals (31.1%) of control group had parents with consanguineous marriages (P < 0.001). Among all investigated factors, seizure, family history, severe stress during pregnancy, mother education level, father education level and consanguineous marriage significantly increased the risk of mental retardation [12 (11.2-15.5), 8.7 (4.7-16), 7.8 (4-17), 4.4 (2.6-12), 3.8 (1.2-6.5) and 2 (1.4-2.4) times, respectively].Conclusion: Consultation before marriage is very important for prevention of mental retardation and other congenital disorders.

Keywords

References

  1. van Schrojenstein Lantman-De Valk HM, Metsemakers JF, Haveman MJ, Crebolder HF. Health problems in people with intellectual disability in general practice: a comparative study. Fam Pract 2000; 17(5): 405-7.
  2. Baxter H, Lowe K, Houston H, Jones G, Felce D. Previously unidentified morbidity in patients with intellectual disability. Br J Gen Pract 2006; 56(523): 93-8.
  3. Fisher K, Kettl P. Aging with mental retardation: increasing population of older adults with MR require health interventions and prevention strategies. Geriatrics 2005; 60(4): 26-9.
  4. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc; 2000. p. 4-9.
  5. Anitha Devi CP, Sudarsanam D. Role of Consanguinity in Mental Retardation. Asian J Exp Biol Sci 2011; 2(1): 162-4.
  6. Sharkia R, Azem A, Kaiyal Q, Zelnik N, Mahajnah M. Mental retardation and consanguinity in a selected region of the Israeli Arab community. Cent Eur J Med 2010; 5(1): 91-6.
  7. Ober C, Weitkamp LR, Cox N, Dytch H, Kostyu D, Elias S. HLA and Mate Choice in Humans. Am J Human Genetic 1997; 61(3): 497-504.
  8. Wong SS, Anokute CC. The effect of consanguinity on pregnancy outcome in Saudi Arabia. J R Soc Health 1990; 110(4): 146-7.
  9. Jaber L, Merlob P, Gabriel R, Shohat M. Effects of consanguineous marriage on reproductive outcome in an Arab community in Israel. J Med Genet 1997; 34(12): 1000-2.
  10. Padma T, Murthy JS, Siva Reddy P. Genetic heterogeneity in cataracts. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology 1978; 26(1): 1-5.
  11. Afzal M. Inbreeding and selection intensity in a muslim community from Bihar, India. Am J Human Genetic 1988; 49(4): 494.
  12. Ryabokon NI, Smolich II, Goncharova RI. Genetic processes in chronically irradiated populations of small mammals. Environmental Management and Health 2000; 11(5): 433-46.
  13. Verma IC, Prema A, Puri RK. Health effects of consanguinity in Pondicherry. Indian Pediatr 1992; 29(6): 685-692.
  14. Panter-Brick C. Parental responses to consanguinity and genetic disease in Saudi Arabia. Soc Sci Med 1991; 33(11): 1295-302.
  15. Abu-Rabia S, Maroun L. The effect of consanguineous marriage on reading disability in the Arab community. Dyslexia. 2005; 11(1): 1-21.
  16. Soroori AA. Consanguineous marriages and genetic diseases of children. Isfahan: Isfahan Univarsity of Medical Sciences Publication; 1995. p. 102.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 28, Issue 116 - Serial Number 116
September and October 2011
Pages 1076-1083

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 March 2011
  • Revise Date: 20 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics