Consanguineous marriages profile in the Tanger-Tetouan region in Morocco

Consanguineous marriage has received a great deal of attention as a potential risk factor for many adverse health outcomes. More than a billion people in the world live in regions where 20%-50% of marriages are consanguineous. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and types of consanguineous marriage in the region of Tanger-Tetouan in Northwest Morocco. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 160 university students in Tanger in 2014. All students were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results: The frequency of consanguineous marriages among parents of students was 39,4%, with a mean inbreeding coefficient (up to second cousins) of 0,02033. The study revealed a highly significant difference in the rates of…