Has the long-predicted decline in consanguineous marriage in India occurred?

Abstract

To an extent the question posed in the title of this paper can simply be answered in the affirmative. Based on the extensive data available from the National Family Health Survey-1 (NFHS-1) conducted in 1992–93 and NFHS-4 in 2015–16 there has been a significant overall decline of some 19% in the prevalence of consanguineous marriage in India. However, when examined at state level the picture is more complex, with large reductions in consanguinity in southern states where intra-familial marriage previously has been strongly favoured, whereas in some northern states in which close kin unions traditionally have been proscribed small increases were recorded. In a country such as India, comprising an estimated 18% of the current world population and with multiple ethnic, religious, geographical and social sub-divisions, apparently contrary findings of this nature are not unexpected – especially given the major shifts that are underway in family sizes, in education and employment, and with rapid urbanization. The changing health profile of the population also is an important factor, with non-communicable diseases now responsible for a majority of morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood. The degree to which future alterations in the prevalence and profile of consanguineous marriage occur, and at what rate, is difficult to predict – the more so given the markedly diverse cultural identities that remain extant across the Sub-Continent, and ongoing intra-community endogamy.

Effect of Health Education on Knowledge and Behaviour Towards Consanguineous Marriage and Infantile Hearing Loss

“…Similar findings of high prevalence of hereditary hearing loss were seen in regions with a high consanguinity rate [4][5][6]. Consanguineous marriages are common in our country with an overall prevalence of 7.4% in India, and the highest in South India, with 23.8% [7].…”

“…There is a role of consanguinity in the prevalence of childhood hearing impairment [3][4][5][6]. Consanguinity is common, with an overall prevalence of 7.4% in India and highest in South India, with 23.8% [7]. Hearing disability in children is crucial as the outcomes of hearing loss are unfavourable if it occurs before the development of speech and language.…”

The husband-older age gap in marriage is associated with selective fitness.

“…This education matching rate for high-status partners increased to 80.0% for the Hindu subsample. If very young and very old husbands among Hindus disproportionately possess redeeming features such as a good education, or genetic unrelatedness (see Kumari et al, 2019), this might compensate for any disadvantages these large age gaps would otherwise bring to a marriage. Whatever explanation one prefers for the findings of Figure 14, these Indian marriage and parenting data suggest that evolution does not always trump culture.…”

Spousal violence among consanguineous marriage in India: a social-ecological analysis using nationally representative cross-sectional study

“…In India, the prevalence of consanguineous marriage ranges from 9.3 (NFHS-1) and 7.4 (NFHS-4), and it varies with socioeconomic condition, educational attainment, geographical region, religious belief and cultural practices. [8][9][10] For example However, the state level picture is complex, with large reductions in consanguinity in southern states and on other hand there is slightly increase in Northern states. 8 His prevalence of consanguineous marriage is higher in rural areas, among low socio-economic group and among the Muslim community.…”