A Study of the Association of Parental Consanguinity with Birth Defects and Neonatal Medical Problems in Babylon Province

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of 138 married couples and their offspring was done in Babylon Province from the period between the first of February till the end of April 201 6 .The parents; who were either consanguine or no consanguine, came from mixed urban and rural backgrounds. Socio -demographic and obstetric data were recorded. Neonatal data were extracted from the medical records of the labor and neonatal care wards. The incidence ofcongenitalandbirthdefectswassignificantlyhigherforthoseborntoconsanguineparents especially for first cousin couples. The incidence of congenital abnormalities in newborns of all non-consanguineous parents was 7.1% as compared to 23.2 % for newborns of all consanguineous group. In addition prematurity, history of previous prenatal mortality, and low birth weight were more common in the consanguineousgroup.