Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK - evidence from two cohort studies
- PMID:39931108
- PMCID: PMC11809158
- DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.21121.2
Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK - evidence from two cohort studies
Abstract
Background: Research undertaken using the Born in Bradford cohort study identified consanguinity as a major risk factor for congenital anomalies and also reported longer term adverse health outcomes associated with consanguinity.
Methods: We report the prevalence of consanguinity from two cohort studies in the same geographical area with a nine year gap: Born in Bradford (BiB) and Born in Bradford's Better Start (BiBBS). We examine and compare rates of consanguinity and the characteristics of the consanguineous in each study population to examine if and how these have changed in the years between the recruitment periods of 2007-2010 (BiB) and 2016-2019 (BiBBS).
Results: There had been a substantial decrease in consanguineous unions in women of Pakistani heritage, the proportion of women who were first cousins with the father of their baby fell from 39.3% to 27.0%, and those who were other blood relations fell from 23.1% to 19.3%. Only 37.6% of Pakistani heritage women were unrelated to the father of their baby in BiB, but 53.7% were unrelated in BiBBS. All but one White British respondent was unrelated to their baby's father in both cohorts, and around 90% of the 'Other ethnicities' group (i.e., not White British or Pakistani heritage) were unrelated to the baby's father in both cohorts. The reduction was most marked in women of Pakistani heritage who were born in the UK, in those educated to A level or higher and in women under age 25.
Conclusions: An appreciation of changing rates of consanguinity and linked health needs will be valuable to those who commission and provide antenatal, paediatric and genetic services in Bradford and in other areas where consanguinity is likely to be a major risk factor. Falling rates in this city may reflect wider changes in partner choices in similar populations.
Keywords: Pakistani heritage; cohort studies; congenital anomalies; consanguinity.
Plain language summary
High rates of consanguinity (unions between blood relations, most often cousins) are a major risk factor for a particular category of genetic disorders called recessive disorders. These disorders can have a severe impact on children. There are also other longer term adverse health effects observed in children and adults from these unions. We report results from two ongoing cohort studies from the same city, Born in Bradford (BiB) and Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS). We examine and compare rates of consanguinity and the characteristics of the consanguineous in each study population to examine if and how these have changed in the years between the two cohort recruitment periods of 2007–2010 (BiB) and 2016–2019 (BiBBS). In both cohorts the majority of women were of Pakistani heritage, 65% and 62% in the BiB and BiBBS respectively. Over a nine year period there had been a reduction in consanguineous unions in the Pakistani heritage cohort members. Only 38% of Pakistani heritage women were unrelated to the father of their baby in the BiB cohort, but 54% were unrelated in the BiBBS cohort. Rates of consanguinity in White British women and women in the “other ethnicities” group were very low in both cohorts. The reduction was most marked in women of Pakistani heritage who were born in the UK, in those educated to A level or higher and in women under age 25. Comparing cohorts across time is a valuable way to examine social and behavioural change especially where the characteristics of the cohort members are similar. A reduction in consanguinity is likely to reduce the number of recessive genetic disorders and other illnesses linked to consanguinity.
Copyright: © 2024 Small N et al.
Conflict of interest statement
No competing interests were disclosed.
Figures
References
- Bittles AH: Consanguinity in context.Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,2012. 10.1017/CBO9781139015844 - DOI
- Department of Health: Tackling health inequalities in infant and maternal health outcomes: report of the Infant Mortality National Support Team.Health Inequalities Unit. London. Department of Health,2010.Reference Source
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous