In terms, of clinical genetics, a consanguineous marriage is defined as a union between two individuals who are related as second cousins or closer.(Barakat,2014). Consanguinity, in particular first cousin marriage is wide-spread and socially encouraged in many Middle Eastern, West Asian and North African countries.
Consanguinity is a problem, because it is much more likely that both parents will carry the same genes, if they are related. In non-consanguineous marriages the risk of a serious disease or malformation in a child is about 1 in 11, whereas in cousin marriages it increases to 50%. (Hamamy,2012,p.182-192). Most sovereign states have laid down very strict restrictions on relative marriages, such as USA, People's Republic of Korea and Democratic Republic of China, which maintain civil
2) to reduce morbidity and mortality in the first years of life for children from consanguineous marriages. Such options as prenatal screening can be used to reduce the incidence of live births with inherited diseases. The simplest and most comprehensive tool for providing genetic screening to consanguineous couples and their offspring is obtaining a medical family history covering 3-4 generations from the consultancies.(Bener,2006). Genetic counseling has been successful in reducing the incidence of the inherited disorders in many populations. The programs are successful when they are sensitive to the cultural backgrounds of populations in which they are applied. For example, in Saudi society the provision of appropriate genetic counseling has tremendous results in preventing inherited diseases and recessive disorders, such as mental retardation, autism, hypertension and coronary artery diseases.