Ties That Blind: A Longitudinal Study on Consanguinity and Congenital Disorders in Kabirwala, Pakistan

Consanguineous marriage, defined as marriage between close relatives, is a prevalent practice in many traditional societies. It is commonly perceived to secure property rights, maintain social cohesion, and fortify kinship structures. However, consanguineous marriages are also associated with an inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Qualitative report 2023-11, Vol.28 (11), p.COV1-3184
Main Authors: Irfan, Hifza, Sharif, Abida, Sabir, Imran, Watto, Saeed Ahmad, Zaman, Muhammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beliefs
Case Studies
Community
Community Relations
Congenital anomalies
Congenital diseases
Consanguineous marriage
Consanguinity
Couples
Cultural Context
Culture
Disease
Down Syndrome
Family Relationship
Field study
Followup Studies
Genetic disorders
Longitudinal studies
Marriage
Marriage customs and rites
Modernization
Persistence
Property rights
Public health
Qualitative research
Relatives
Research methodology
Risk factors
Scientists
Social aspects
Social cohesion
Spouses
Traditional societies
Trends
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Summary:Consanguineous marriage, defined as marriage between close relatives, is a prevalent practice in many traditional societies. It is commonly perceived to secure property rights, maintain social cohesion, and fortify kinship structures. However, consanguineous marriages are also associated with an increased risk of inbreeding and consequent chromosomal disorders. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of consanguineous marriage worldwide, with an estimated 60% of all marriages occurring between close relatives. This study focuses on the persistence of consanguinity in Kabirwala, Pakistan, a town in the Punjab province. It investigates the trend of consanguinity and relative affinity according to generations in Kabirwala. It also observes the effects of modernization on consanguinity and explores the reasons behind the practice from the respondents' perspectives. The study used a longitudinal qualitative design, conducting in-depth interviews with the same participants (N=24 couples) over 15 years. Findings indicate that consanguinity is still prevalent in Kabirwala, with 77% of marriages between cousins. The study also found that the practice is rooted in traditional knowledge frameworks that link consanguinity to congenital disorders. However, modernization has led to a decline in consanguineous marriage among younger generations.
ISSN:2160-3715
1052-0147
2160-3715
DOI:10.46743/2160-3715/2023.6120