Reproductive behavior and health in consanguineous marriages

Article Abstract:

Consanguineous marriages are those among close relatives, such as second or first cousins. Today, areas of the world where people of Muslim or Hindu belief are predominant, such as western and southern Asia, India and the middle Asian republics of the Soviet Union, and northern Africa, consanguineous marriages account for 20 to 50 percent of all marriages. Consanguinity is associated with a high number of births per couple, due to social factors, such as younger maternal age. However, the rate of sickness and death among infants born to consanguineous parents is higher. Therefore, the number of survivors comes out the same in both consanguineous and nonconsanguineous families. Consanguinity is associated with genetic disorders because recessive genes that are deleterious are more likely to be expressed. However, the deleterious effects are seen only in a minority of the families of consanguineous marriages. From an evolutionary point of view, genetic combinations that are incompatible with life are eliminated naturally. In children of consanguineous parents, body size measurements at birth and during childhood are only slightly less than similar measurements for the general population. Small reductions are seen in the averages of intellectual capacity, but a wide variation of intellectual capacity is seen, with a small number being of low intelligence. This lack of difference between children of consanguineous and nonconsanguineous parents is because most personal traits are controlled by many genes. Major congenital malformations and death in the first year of life are significantly higher in children of consanguineous parents. Again, social factors affect this statistic, as most consanguineous parents come from a lower socioeconomic background, where infection and malnutrition are common. As socioeconomic conditions improve and the incidence of infections and malnutrition decreases, genetic disorders will account for a higher proportion of the deaths in consanguineous children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Causes of, Genetic aspects, Genetic disorders, Consanguinity

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International perspectives on women's reproductive health

Article Abstract:

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) attempted to address women's health concerns in a holistic manner. The ICPD agenda assumed that the empowerment of women is a necessary condition for the promotion of women's reproductive health.

Health aspects, Analysis, Conferences, meetings and seminars, Women, Women's health, Birth control, United Nations Conference on Population and Development, 1994

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Capturing the dynamic behavior of adsorbed polymers

Article Abstract:

Researchers have developed a method of measuring the dynamic changes within a layer of adsorbed polymer. The technique enables the investigation of the effect of polymer motion at interfaces on wetting, adhesion and lubrication.

Research, Polymers, Adsorption

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