In Pakistan, marriages within close family circles are fairly common with devastating results for children born out of cousins’ marriages. They experience appalling diseases and deformities inherited at birth. They suffer from heart and nervous problems, as well as from debilitating migraine, which reduces the quality of life. Since an extended family is a popular choice, marriages between blood relatives are preferred.
According to a study, 85.5pc of Pakistani parents are blood relatives of some sort. According to another study conducted in Bradford, UK, children born out of first cousin marriages have double the risk of contracting genetic diseases and birth defects than those who are not.The danger posed by consanguineous union is potent and steps need to be taken to counter it. Communities need to be made aware of the potential health issues associated with such marriages.
Also, legal instruments like mandatory genetic testing before marriage need to be developed to lower the number of cousin marriages which, in many cases, are so unfair to children.
Saad Khosa
pk.shafaqna.com
Family marriages: Risking the life of newborne
