Awareness of Consanguineous Marriage and its Associated Genetic Risks among Young Adults of Selected Colleges in Meerut, U. P

Abstract

Consanguinity refers to marriages between individuals related as second cousins or closer, resulting in a higher inbreeding coefficient. This practice often leads to early-age unions and is common within many communities. The present study, employing a descriptive quantitative method with a self-structured questionnaire, involved 70 young students selected via convenience sampling. Results indicated that a majority (55 participants, or 78%) had limited awareness, 8 (around 11%) demonstrated average knowledge, and only 9 (about 13%) showed a good understanding of consanguineous marriage and its genetic consequences. Furthermore, chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between knowledge levels and demographic factors like age, gender, religion, education, marital status, economic background, and family structure at a p<0.05 level. The study concludes that most young adults have inadequate knowledge about consanguineous marriage and its genetic effects, highlighting a link between awareness and demographic characteristics.