Consanguinity and child mortality: the risk faced by families

Gulzar H. Shah, Michael B. Toney, Brian L. Pitcher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous research reveals that the characteristics and practices of a child's family are important determinants of its chances of surviving beyond childhood. This study investigates the effects of consanguinity on a family's odds of experiencing the death of a child in Pakistan, a society in which marriage among close relatives is common. Analysis of data from the 1991 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey reveals that first cousin marriages increase a couple's risk of enduring the death of one or more of their children. These couples are 1.18 times as likely to have a child die by its fifth birthday than couples not related by blood net of other factors associated with child mortality. Elimination of first cousin marriages would contribute to a modest decrease in the proportion of Pakistani families suffering the death of a child.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)275-283
Number of pages9
JournalPopulation Research and Policy Review
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Demography
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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