Sociodemographic Correlates of Consanguineous Marriage in the Muslim Population of India

Bibliographic Data

ID24076652
AuthorsRafat Hussain (0000-0002-2900-4457, University of New England), A H Bittles (0000-0002-8176-2730, Edith Cowan University)
Year2000
Volume32
Issue4
Pages433-442
Publication date2000-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932000004338
PMID11075637
OpenAlexW2089781849
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited5

Using data derived from the 1992–1993 National Family Health Survey, the sociodemographic characteristics of consanguineous marriage were determined in the Muslim population of India. In this nationally representative sample of 8436 women, consanguineous marriages accounted for 22·0% of the total. No differences between the consanguineous and non-consanguineous groups were observed in terms of mean age at marriage or mean age at cohabitation. The study confirmed the negative association between consanguineous marriage and maternal education but also indicated that women in consanguineous unions were more likely to be employed, albeit mainly in agricultural work on behalf of the family. Consanguineous couples more frequently lived in smaller towns and in an extended family environment. Somewhat conflicting results were obtained with indicators of socioeconomic status, but the overall picture suggested that consanguineous households had greater access to consumer goods because of their larger number of co-resident persons.

Cohabitation · Consanguineous Marriage · Consanguinity · Geography · Population · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders · Medicine · Socioeconomic Development in Asia · Pediatrics