Variations in Types of First-Cousin Marriages over a Two-Generation Period among Arabs in Israel
Author(s)
Rajech Sharkia1,2*,
Muhammad Mahajnah3,4,
Muhammad Athamna1,
Ahmad Sheikh-Muhammad5,
Abdelnaser Zalan1
Affiliation(s)
1 The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center, Kfar-Qari', Israel. 2 Beit-Berl Academic College, Beit-Berl 44905, Israel. 3 Child Neurology and Development Center, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel. 4 Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. 5 The Galilee Society—The Arabs National Society for Research and Health Services, Shefa-Amr, Israel.
1 The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center, Kfar-Qari', Israel. 2 Beit-Berl Academic College, Beit-Berl 44905, Israel. 3 Child Neurology and Development Center, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel. 4 Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. 5 The Galilee Society—The Arabs National Society for Research and Health Services, Shefa-Amr, Israel.
ABSTRACT
The consanguineous marriage phenomenon, particularly the first-cousin marriage type, had been common among different Arab societies and it was even regarded as integral to their culture. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence and trends of first-cousin marriage types over a period of two generations among Arab society in Israel. A specially designed questionnaire was used to survey the study sample that represented this society, and a comparative analysis was performed. During the two generations, the prevalence of first-cousin marriage types was found to be decreasing but still was most predominant among the various consanguineous marriage types. Among the first-cousin marriage types, the paternal subtype was reported to be the favored one in the two generations. Our study concluded that first-cousin marriage was still the preferable type in the Arab community of Israel.
The consanguineous marriage phenomenon, particularly the first-cousin marriage type, had been common among different Arab societies and it was even regarded as integral to their culture. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence and trends of first-cousin marriage types over a period of two generations among Arab society in Israel. A specially designed questionnaire was used to survey the study sample that represented this society, and a comparative analysis was performed. During the two generations, the prevalence of first-cousin marriage types was found to be decreasing but still was most predominant among the various consanguineous marriage types. Among the first-cousin marriage types, the paternal subtype was reported to be the favored one in the two generations. Our study concluded that first-cousin marriage was still the preferable type in the Arab community of Israel.
Cite this paper
Sharkia, R. , Mahajnah, M. , Athamna, M. , Sheikh-Muhammad, A. , Zalan, A. (2015) Variations in Types of First-Cousin Marriages over a Two-Generation Period among Arabs in Israel. Advances in Anthropology, 5, 171-176. doi: 10.4236/aa.2015.54016.
Sharkia, R. , Mahajnah, M. , Athamna, M. , Sheikh-Muhammad, A. , Zalan, A. (2015) Variations in Types of First-Cousin Marriages over a Two-Generation Period among Arabs in Israel. Advances in Anthropology, 5, 171-176. doi: 10.4236/aa.2015.54016.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10897-008-9191-y [4] Al-Abdulkareem, A. A., & Ballal, S. G. (1998). Consanguineous Marriage in an Urban Area of Saudi Arabia: Rates and Adverse Health Effects on the Offspring. Journal of Community Health, 23, 75-83.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018727005707 [5] Al-Arrayed, S., & Hamamy, H. (2012). The Changing Profile of Consanguinity Rates in Bahrain, 1990-2009. Journal of Biosocial Science, 44, 313.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932008002940 [8] Bener, A., & Alali, K. A. (2006). Consanguineous Marriage in a Newly Developed Country: The Qatari Population. Journal of Biosocial Science, 38, 239-246. [9] Bittles, A. (2001). Consanguinity and Its Relevance to Clinical Genetics. Clin Genet, 60, 89-98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-0004.2001.600201.x [10] Halim, N. B., Bouafif, N. B. A., Romdhane, L., Atig, R. K. B., Chouchane, I., Bouyacoub, Y. et al. (2013). Consanguinity, Endogamy, and Genetic Disorders in Tunisia. Journal of Community Genetics, 4, 273-284. [11] Hamamy, H. (2012). Consanguineous Marriages: Preconception Consultation in Primary Health Care Settings. Journal of Community Genetics, 3, 185-192.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12687-011-0072-y [12] Hamamy, H., Jamhawi, L., Al-Darawsheh, J., & Ajlouni, K. (2005). Consanguineous Marriages in Jordan: Why Is the Rate Changing with Time? Clinical Genetics, 67, 511-516.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.2005.00426.x [13] Islam, M. M. (2012). The Practice of Consanguineous Marriage in Oman: Prevalence, Trends and Determinants. Journal of Biosocial Science, 44, 571-594.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932012000016 [14] Jurdi, R., & Saxena, P. C. (2003). The Prevalence and Correlates of Consanguineous Marriages in Yemen: Similarities and Contrasts with Other Arab Countries. Journal of Biosocial Science, 35, 1-13.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932003000014 [15] Khlat, M. (1988). Consanguineous Marriage and Reproduction in Beirut, Lebanon. American Journal of Human Genetics, 43, 188-196. [16] Khlat, M., Halabi, S., Khudr, A., Der Kaloustian, V. M., Opitz, J. M., & Reynolds, J. F. (1986). Perception of Consanguineous Marriages and Their Genetic Effects among a Sample of Couples from Beirut. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 25, 299-306.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320250215 [17] Khoury, S. A., & Massad, D. (1992). Consanguineous Marriage in Jordan. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 43, 769-775.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320430502 [18] Na’amnih, W., Romano-Zelekha, O., Kabaha, A., Rubin, L. P., Bilenko, N., Jaber, L., Honovich, M., & Shohat, T. (2015). Continuous Decrease of Consanguineous Marriages among Arabs in Israel. American Journal of Human Biology, 27, 94-98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22610 [19] Radovanovic, Z., Shah, N., & Behbehani, J. (1999). Prevalence and Social Correlates of Consanguinity in Kuwait. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 19, 206-210. [20] Rajab, A., & Patton, M. (2000). Short Report: A Study of Consanguinity in the Sultanate of Oman. Annals of Human Biology, 27, 321-326.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/030144600282208 [21] Raz, A. E., & Atar, M. (2004). Cousin Marriage and Premarital Carrier Matching in a Bedouin Community in Israel: Attitudes, Service Development and Educational Intervention. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 30, 49-51.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1783/147118904322701992 [22] Saadat, M., & Tajbakhsh, K. (2012). Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriages in West and South of Afghanistan. Journal of Biosocial Science, 1, 1-7. [23] Saadat, M., Ansari-Lari, M., & Farhud, D. (2004). Short Report Consanguineous Marriage in Iran. Annals of Human Biology, 31, 263-269.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460310001652211 [24] Sharkia, R., Azem, A., Kaiyal, Q., Zelnik, N., & Mahajnah, M. (2010). Mental Retardation and Consanguinity in a Selected Region of the Israeli Arab Community. Central European Journal of Medicine, 5, 91-96. [25] Sharkia, R., Mahajnah, M., Zalan, A., Athamna, M., Azem, A., Badarneh, K., & Faris, F. (2013). Comparative Screening of FMF Mutations in Various Communities of the Israeli Society. European Journal of Medical Genetics, 56, 351-355.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2013.04.002 [26] Sharkia, R., Tarabeia, J., Zalan, A., Atamany, E., Athamna, M., & Allon-Shalev, S. (2015). Factors Affecting the Utilization of Genetic Counseling Services among Israeli Arab Women. Prenatal Diagnosis, 35, 370-375.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.4550 [27] Sharkia, R., Zaid, M., Athamna, A., Cohen, D., Azem, A., & Zalan, A. (2008). The Changing Pattern of Consanguinity in a Selected Region of the Israeli Arab Community. American Journal of Human Biology, 20, 72-77.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20678 [28] Teebi, A. S. (2010). Genetic Disorders among Arab Populations. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05080-0 [29] Zlotogora, J., Leventhal, A., & Amitai, Y. (2003). The Impact of Congenital Malformations and Mendelian Diseases on Infant Mortality in Israel. Israel Medical Association Journal, 5, 416-418.
[1] Abumwais, J. Q. (2012). Etiology of Chronic Renal Failure in Jenin District, Palestine. Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, 23, 158-161. [2] Ahmed Gunaid, A., Ali Hummad, N., & Abdallah Tamim, K. (2004). Consanguineous Marriage in the Capital City Sana’a, Yemen. Journal of biosocial science, 36, 111-121.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932003006138 [3] Akrami, S. M., Montazeri, V., Shomali, S. R., Heshmat, R., & Larijani, B. (2009). Is There a Significant Trend in Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriage in Tehran? A Review of Three Generations. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 18, 82-86.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10897-008-9191-y [4] Al-Abdulkareem, A. A., & Ballal, S. G. (1998). Consanguineous Marriage in an Urban Area of Saudi Arabia: Rates and Adverse Health Effects on the Offspring. Journal of Community Health, 23, 75-83.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018727005707 [5] Al-Arrayed, S., & Hamamy, H. (2012). The Changing Profile of Consanguinity Rates in Bahrain, 1990-2009. Journal of Biosocial Science, 44, 313.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021932011000666 [6] Al-Gazali, L., Bener, A., Abdulrazzaq, Y., Micallef, R., Al-Khayat, A., & Gaber, T. (1997). Consanguineous Marriages in the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Biosocial Science, 29, 491-497.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932097004914 [7] Assaf, S., & Khawaja, M. (2009). Consanguinity Trends and Correlates in the Palestinian Territories. Journal of Biosocial Science, 41, 107-124.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932008002940 [8] Bener, A., & Alali, K. A. (2006). Consanguineous Marriage in a Newly Developed Country: The Qatari Population. Journal of Biosocial Science, 38, 239-246. [9] Bittles, A. (2001). Consanguinity and Its Relevance to Clinical Genetics. Clin Genet, 60, 89-98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-0004.2001.600201.x [10] Halim, N. B., Bouafif, N. B. A., Romdhane, L., Atig, R. K. B., Chouchane, I., Bouyacoub, Y. et al. (2013). Consanguinity, Endogamy, and Genetic Disorders in Tunisia. Journal of Community Genetics, 4, 273-284. [11] Hamamy, H. (2012). Consanguineous Marriages: Preconception Consultation in Primary Health Care Settings. Journal of Community Genetics, 3, 185-192.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12687-011-0072-y [12] Hamamy, H., Jamhawi, L., Al-Darawsheh, J., & Ajlouni, K. (2005). Consanguineous Marriages in Jordan: Why Is the Rate Changing with Time? Clinical Genetics, 67, 511-516.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.2005.00426.x [13] Islam, M. M. (2012). The Practice of Consanguineous Marriage in Oman: Prevalence, Trends and Determinants. Journal of Biosocial Science, 44, 571-594.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932012000016 [14] Jurdi, R., & Saxena, P. C. (2003). The Prevalence and Correlates of Consanguineous Marriages in Yemen: Similarities and Contrasts with Other Arab Countries. Journal of Biosocial Science, 35, 1-13.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021932003000014 [15] Khlat, M. (1988). Consanguineous Marriage and Reproduction in Beirut, Lebanon. American Journal of Human Genetics, 43, 188-196. [16] Khlat, M., Halabi, S., Khudr, A., Der Kaloustian, V. M., Opitz, J. M., & Reynolds, J. F. (1986). Perception of Consanguineous Marriages and Their Genetic Effects among a Sample of Couples from Beirut. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 25, 299-306.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320250215 [17] Khoury, S. A., & Massad, D. (1992). Consanguineous Marriage in Jordan. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 43, 769-775.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320430502 [18] Na’amnih, W., Romano-Zelekha, O., Kabaha, A., Rubin, L. P., Bilenko, N., Jaber, L., Honovich, M., & Shohat, T. (2015). Continuous Decrease of Consanguineous Marriages among Arabs in Israel. American Journal of Human Biology, 27, 94-98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22610 [19] Radovanovic, Z., Shah, N., & Behbehani, J. (1999). Prevalence and Social Correlates of Consanguinity in Kuwait. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 19, 206-210. [20] Rajab, A., & Patton, M. (2000). Short Report: A Study of Consanguinity in the Sultanate of Oman. Annals of Human Biology, 27, 321-326.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/030144600282208 [21] Raz, A. E., & Atar, M. (2004). Cousin Marriage and Premarital Carrier Matching in a Bedouin Community in Israel: Attitudes, Service Development and Educational Intervention. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 30, 49-51.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1783/147118904322701992 [22] Saadat, M., & Tajbakhsh, K. (2012). Prevalence of Consanguineous Marriages in West and South of Afghanistan. Journal of Biosocial Science, 1, 1-7. [23] Saadat, M., Ansari-Lari, M., & Farhud, D. (2004). Short Report Consanguineous Marriage in Iran. Annals of Human Biology, 31, 263-269.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460310001652211 [24] Sharkia, R., Azem, A., Kaiyal, Q., Zelnik, N., & Mahajnah, M. (2010). Mental Retardation and Consanguinity in a Selected Region of the Israeli Arab Community. Central European Journal of Medicine, 5, 91-96. [25] Sharkia, R., Mahajnah, M., Zalan, A., Athamna, M., Azem, A., Badarneh, K., & Faris, F. (2013). Comparative Screening of FMF Mutations in Various Communities of the Israeli Society. European Journal of Medical Genetics, 56, 351-355.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2013.04.002 [26] Sharkia, R., Tarabeia, J., Zalan, A., Atamany, E., Athamna, M., & Allon-Shalev, S. (2015). Factors Affecting the Utilization of Genetic Counseling Services among Israeli Arab Women. Prenatal Diagnosis, 35, 370-375.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.4550 [27] Sharkia, R., Zaid, M., Athamna, A., Cohen, D., Azem, A., & Zalan, A. (2008). The Changing Pattern of Consanguinity in a Selected Region of the Israeli Arab Community. American Journal of Human Biology, 20, 72-77.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20678 [28] Teebi, A. S. (2010). Genetic Disorders among Arab Populations. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05080-0 [29] Zlotogora, J., Leventhal, A., & Amitai, Y. (2003). The Impact of Congenital Malformations and Mendelian Diseases on Infant Mortality in Israel. Israel Medical Association Journal, 5, 416-418.