THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Marriage between first cousins increases the risk of genetic disorders in children. When parents are closely related, they are more likely to carry the same faulty genes. If both parents have the same genetic defect, their child has a 25% chance of inheriting a serious condition.
Research from Bradford, England, shows the real-world impact of this risk. Studies found that cousin marriage was linked to 53% of infant deaths from genetic disorders among South Asian families in the city. Children born to first cousins are twice as likely to have birth defects compared to the general population.
Common genetic conditions that become more likely include:
(1)Tay-Sachs disease
(2)Cystic fibrosis
(3) Sickle cell anaemia
(4)Various forms of mental disability
(5)Heart defects
(6)Deafness and blindness
What the NHS Actually Said
The NHS has not advocated for cousin marriage. Instead, Bradford NHS Trust created materials in 2022 that described cousin marriage as a “cultural practice” and compared its risks to other choices, like older women having children. This approach sparked controversy because critics felt it downplayed serious health risks.
The NHS materials were trying to provide culturally sensitive health information rather than promote cousin marriage. However, many medical experts argued this approach was wrong because it didn’t clearly explain the genetic dangers.
Why Cousin Marriage Occurs in Some Communities
In Pakistani and some other South Asian communities, cousin marriage has been common for generations. The reasons include:
1.Traditional Practices
Families have arranged marriages within extended family networks for hundreds of years. This was seen as a way to keep property and wealth within the family.
2.Social Bonds
Marrying cousins strengthens ties between different branches of the same family. Parents believe they know their in-laws better, which can reduce family conflicts.
3.Economic Factors
Keeping marriages within the family can help preserve land ownership and business relationships across generations.
4.Immigration Patterns
When families moved to countries like Britain, marrying cousins helped maintain connections to their homeland and culture.
5.Trust and Safety
Some parents feel their daughters will be better treated by relatives they know well, rather than strangers.
The Current Debate
Medical professionals are caught between two important goals: protecting children’s health and respecting cultural traditions. Some argue for clear warnings about genetic risks. Others worry that direct criticism will push families away from getting proper medical care.
The British government currently has no plans to ban cousin marriage, unlike some other countries. Instead, health services are trying to provide better genetic counselling and testing to help families make informed choices.
Moving Forward
The challenge is finding ways to respect cultural traditions while protecting children’s health. This likely requires:
(1)Clear, honest information about genetic risks
(2)Better access to genetic testing and counselling
(3) Community leaders discussing these issues openly
(4)Support for families making difficult decisions
(5)Medical care that doesn’t judge but provides facts
The goal should be helping all families make the best choices for their children’s health and wellbeing, regardless of their cultural background.
References
1.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15140539/NHS-cousin-marriages-risk-birth-defects-women.html?ito=whatsapp_share_article-top
2.https://www.gbnews.com/news/nhs-trust-cousin-marriages-cultural-practice
3.https://unherd.com/newsroom/nhs-trust-spends-3-6-million-treating-cousin-marriage-birth-defects/
4.https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/4097/w36205-cousin-marriage-leaflet-final-082417.pdf
5.https://borninbradford.nhs.uk/our-impacts/publications/first-cousin-marriages-shown-to-put-infants-at-major-risk-of-congenital-anomaly/
