iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The Met Department forecasts generally fair weather, with partly cloudy conditions at times
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Increasing Rate of Inter-family Marriages in UAE a Concern: Expert
DUBAI - The rate of inter-family marriages is increasing at a higher pace in the UAE than other countries in the region, and is as favoured in the new generation as in the older, said a senior geneticist, citing recent studies.
The rate of first cousin marriages was also considered higher in Dubai than in other emirates, he said.
“Many Arab countries display some of the highest rates of consanguineous marriages in the world, and specifically first cousin marriages which may reach 25-30 per cent of all marriages,” said Dr Ghazi Tadmouri, Assistant Director of the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies at the recently held third Pan Arab Genetic Conference.
He said research among Arabs and worldwide has indicated that consanguinity or marriage among relatives could have a negative effect on the reproductive health and also have higher rates of congenital malformations.
“The main impact of consanguinity, especially in the Arab population, is an increase in the rate of recessive genetic disorders (whereby both partners are carriers) such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and metabolic disorders, among others,” he said.
The centre has recorded 85 genetic disorders in a number of families in the UAE due to inter-family marriages out of the 247 present in the country.
Qatar and Yemen are other countries where consanguinity is also increasing, said Dr Tadmouri. “This is generally because of social, religious, cultural, political and economic factors,” he said, citing different studies to support the centre’s study on “Consanguinity and Reproductive Health among Arabs” which was published last year.
Consanguineous marriages among Arabs are respected because it is thought that they promote family stability, simplify financial premarital negotiations, offer a greater compatibility between the spouses and other family members, offer a lesser risk of hidden financial and health issues, and maintain the family land possessions, said Dr Tadmouri.
However, he said reports from some Arab countries have shown that consanguinity rates are lower in urban areas when compared to rural settings possibly due to increasing education levels, better economic standards and mobility from rural to urban settings.
“But in some other countries, the more an Arab man is educated the more consanguineous he is.”
Dr Tadmouri said that increasing inter-family marriages were leading to congenital malformations in newborns. “12/1000 births with such defects have been recorded in the country while post-natal mortality stands at 4.4 per cent in the Arab world which is more than in Europe,” he said.
Studies on the association of consanguinity with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome and association with non-communicable disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders among Arabs are presently non-conclusive, he said.
Despite the increasing trend, young Arabs contemplating marriage are nowadays seeking a scientifically sound answer to their questions. “Research on inbreeding is a priority in societies with high consanguinity rates to provide standardised and evidence-based guidelines for health care providers to assist them in counselling,” he concluded.
More news from
Studies indicate that approximately 28.2% of schoolgoing children and 34.7% of adolescents in the UAE are classified as overweight or obese
The consistent rise in rentals over the past three years has boosted property owners’ income
The athlete's proactive approach includes a balanced diet and carefully regulating his insulin pump to prevent drops in blood sugar during training
Some say the congestion starts as early as 6.30am and lasts until late morning
Passengers booked on these services are being assisted with travel arrangements, the airline said
Spot gold prices hit record high of $2,635.29/oz
UniCredit CEO Orcel aims to build Europe's biggest bank