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CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES AND GENETIC DISEASES IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA

Fatimah AlGhamdi, Fatimah AlKhars, Dalal AlAnazi

Background: There is a high rate of consanguinity in Saudi Arabia; however, information on its relationship with genetic disorders is limited Aim of study: to study the relationship between consanguinity and the common inherited diseases in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material & Methods: An online questionnaire was used to obtain the data. SPSS v21 program was used to analyze that data with size of 294 samples. Results: The study findings in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia population with a high rate of consanguinity, it shows that there is a significant increase in the prevalence of hereditary diseases, like anemia, diabetes, cancer, cardiac problems, loss of sense and some other diseases. The main causes of consanguinity proved by the study were the couple agreement, following the traditions, and that people are not aware enough of the consequences. Conclusion: In a population with a high rate of consanguinity, an action was taken by Saudi Arabia government about making premarital test mandatory. Key words: Consanguinity. Genetic diseases. Eastern province.

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