Exploring the Relationship Between Consanguinity and Perinatal Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional, Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate how parental consanguinity might influence newborn health outcomes.

Methodology: This cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted from 1^st September 2022 to 31^st September 2023 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. Institutional review board approved this study. Following a careful selection process, patients were classified as consanguineous or non-consanguineous. We collected demographic and clinical information during delivery (both vaginal and cesarean). Newborns were closely followed until hospital discharge to assess key neonatal outcomes.

Results: The mean age of the study population was recorded as 28.53±4.9. The results of this study showed 1^st cousin marriages in 28.6% (n=100) study population whereas, 2^nd cousin marriages were observed in 14.3% (50) population. The ratio in study population that was not in a relation with consanguinity was found in 56.9% (199) population. Clinical parameters which were found to be significantly associated with consanguinity were threatened PTL (p=0.02), pre-term delivery(p=0.02), NICU admissions (p<0.01), and neonatal outcomes (p<0.01) respectively.

Conclusion: Consanguinity is deeply ingrained in some Pakistani communities. Surprisingly, even within a largely homogenous group, consanguineous marriages were strongly linked to increased risks of neonatal intensive care admission, stillbirth, perinatal mortality, and congenital abnormalities