The Practice of Consanguineous Marriage in Oman: Prevalence, Trends and Determinants

Abstract

The practice of consanguineous marriage has been the culturally preferred form of marriage in most Arab and the Middle Eastern countries, including Oman, but due to a paucity of population-based data in the past there is a dearth of information about its form and dynamics in Oman. Recent national-level surveys allow this gap to be filled. This paper examines the prevalence, trends and determinants of consanguineous marriages in Oman using data from the 2000 Oman National Health Survey. The results indicate a very high prevalence of consanguineous marriage in Oman, as more than half (52%) of marriages are consanguineous. First cousin unions are the most common type of consanguineous unions, constituting 39% of all marriages and 75% of all consanguineous marriages. The study observed various patterns of consanguinity, some of them common with other Arab nations, and some unique in nature. Women's age at marriage, employment, place of childhood residence and geographical region appear to be significant determinants of consanguineous marriages. Consanguineous marriage shows a strong association with marital stability, early age at marriage and early-age childbearing. There has been no appreciable change in the prevalence of consanguineous unions in Oman over the last four decades despite massive socioeconomic development and modernization. However, recent marriage cohorts show slight declining trends. The results suggest that consanguinity is likely to remain stable in the future or decline at a slow rate. Specific health education and genetic counselling should be followed in line with WHO recommendations to minimize the negative health consequences of consanguinity for child health.

Pseudohypoaldosteronism in Two Omani Siblings with a Novel Mutation in the SCNN1A Gene

“…Assuming that the two siblings have the same mutation, it can be seen that phenotypic variations could exist within the same genotypic mutation. Genomic testing of the index case, testing for the carrier state in the asymptomatic siblings as well as in the parents to detect homozygosityor compound heterozygosity is highly recommended especially in a community with a high rate of consanguineous marriage [12 ].…”

Reflection on Doing Qualitative Research: Interviewing Silent Women

“…Socially, the marriage simplifies pre-marital negotiations, strengthens family ties, promotes family stability, and offers greater compatibility. Economically, the marriage reduces dowry and preserves property within families (Islam, 2012). In the researcher's study, majority (8 out of 10) of the interviewees are married to their cousins through family arrangements.…”

“…b) Second, which is related to the first, many of them are married to their cousins. Consanguineous marriages, especially amongst the first cousins are typical in this society even among the educated and professionals (Peterson, 2011;Islam, 2012). It is preferred and respected due to its social and economic advantages.…”

Variations in Types of First-Cousin Marriages over a Two-Generation Period among Arabs in Israel

“…In Oman, the prevalence of consanguineous marriage was found to be very high (55%); first-cousin unions were the most common type, constituting 24.1% of all marriages (Rajab & Patton, 2000). Furthermore, another study in the same country also found a high prevalence of consanguinity (52%), and first-cousin marriages were found to be 39% of all marriages (Islam, 2012). In a recent study in Tunisia, first-cousin marriages were found to be the most common type of consanguineous marriages and accounted for 31.8% of the overall sample studied, but they constituted 55.5% of all consanguineous unions (Halim et al, 2013).…”