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Abstract

Introduction: The epidemiological literature is inconsistent in its findings onassociation of parental consanguinity & birth outcomes. Research studies rarely look into thekin relationship of the spouses as a possible risk factor for reproductive wastage includingintra uterine deaths (IUDs). Objective: To assess the effect of parental consanguinity on birthoutcome of the offspring. Data Source & Study Setting: Hospital based study carried out inmaternity wards of public sector & private hospitals in Hyderabad. Study Design: Comparativecross sectional. Study Period: Eight months. Material & Methods: Data was collected on ninehundred & sixty two new borne by filling up of questionnaire & taking notes from maternity historysheets; the intrauterine death for the current pregnancy was the outcome variable of interest& for better appraisal of the effect of consanguinity on offspring mortality, logistic regressionwas applied on selected proximate determinants separately for each group of consanguinity.Results: Higher rate of IUD was observed among consanguineous couples as compared tocomparison group (12.86% v/s 2.93%). Strongly significant association of IUDs for the currentpregnancy was reported among consanguineous parents, second cousins & totally inbredoffspring i.e. (OR 4.89; 95% CI 2.61, 9.15; p=0.00), (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.22, 3.72; p= 0.007) &(OR 5.07; 95% CI 3.18, 8.06; p=0.00) respectively; whereas first cousin & uncle-niece relationof spouses revealed insignificant results. Conclusions: Consanguinity is a critical predictor ofintrauterine deaths among offspring’s. At the policy level, there is need for educating peopleabout the offspring’s’ health risks associated with consanguineous marriages.