Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:46:30.081Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE IN JORDAN: AN UPDATE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 2017

M. Mazharul Islam*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Faisal M. Ababneh
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
MD Hasinur Rahaman Khan
Affiliation:
Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Summary

This study examined the recent level, trends and determinants of consanguineous marriage in Jordan using time-series data from the Jordan Population and Family Health Surveys (JPFHSs). According to the 2012 JPFHS, 35% of all marriages were consanguineous in Jordan in 2012. There has been a declining trend in consanguinity in the country, with the rate decreasing from a level of 57% in 1990. Most consanguineous marriage in 2012 were first cousin marriages, constituting 23% of all marriages and 66% of all consanguineous marriages. The data show that women with a lower age at marriage, older marriage cohort, larger family size, less than secondary level of education, rural place of residence, no employment, no exposure to mass media, a monogamous marriage, a husband with less than higher level of education and lower economic status, and those from the Badia region, were more likely to have a consanguineous marriage. Increasing age at marriage, level of education, urbanization and knowledge about the health consequences of consanguinity, and the ongoing socioeconomic and demographic transition in the country, will be the driving forces for further decline in consanguinity in Jordan.

Type
Short Report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Al-Salem, M. & Rawashdeh, N. (1993) Consanguinity in north Jordan: prevalence and pattern. Journal of Biosocial Science 25(4), 553556.Google Scholar
Assaf, S. & Bradley, S. E. K. (2014) Trends in Demographic and Health Indicators in Jordan: Data from the 1990–2012 Jordan Population and Family Health Surveys. DHS Trends Report No. 8. ICF International. Rockville, MD, USA.Google Scholar
Bakoush, O., Bredan, A. & Denic, S. (2016) Kin and non-kin marriages and family structure in a rich tribal society. Journal of Biosocial Science 48(6), 797805.Google Scholar
Bittles, A. H. (2012) Consanguinity in Context. Cambridge University Press, London.Google Scholar
Department of Statistics & ICF International (2013) Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2012. Department of Statistics, Jordan, and ICF International, Calverton, MD, USA.Google Scholar
Hamamy, H. A., Masri, A. T., Al-Hadidy, A. M. & Ajlouni, K. M. (2005) Consanguinity and genetic disorders. Profile from Jordan. Saudi Medical Journal 28, 10151017.Google Scholar
Hijazi, S. (1997) Child Growth and Nutrition in Jordan. Royal Scientific Society Publishers, Amman, Jordan.Google Scholar
Islam, M. M. (2012) The practice of consanguineous marriage in Oman: prevalence, tends and determinants. Journal of Biosocial Science 44, 571594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Islam, M. M. (2017) Consanguineous marriage in Oman: understanding the community awareness about congenital effects of and attitude towards consanguineous marriage. Annals of Human Biology 44, 273286.Google Scholar
Jurdi, R. & Saxena, P. C. (2003) The prevalence and correlates of consanguineous marriage in Yemen: similarities and contrasts with other Arab countries. Journal of Biosocial Science 35, 113.Google Scholar
Khlat, M. (1997) Endogamy in the Arab world. In Teebi, A. S. & Farag, T. I. (eds) Genetic Disorders Among Arab Populations. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 6382.Google Scholar
Khoury, S. A. & Massad, D. (1992) Consanguineous marriage in Jordan. American Journal of Medical Genetics 43(5), 769775.Google Scholar
Radovanovic, Z., Shah, N. & Behbehani, J. (1999) Prevalence and social correlates of consanguinity in Kuwait. Annals of Saudi Medicine 19(3), 206210.Google Scholar
Raz, A. E. & Atar, M. (2005) Perceptions of cousin marriage among young Bedouin adults in Israel. Marriage & Family Review 37(3), 2745.Google Scholar
Setlur, B. (2012) Project Information Document (Appraisal Stage) – JO-Badia Ecosystem and Livelihoods – P127861. World Bank, Washington, DC. URL: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/806431468771281104/Project-Information-Document-Appraisal-Stage-JO-Badia-Ecosystem-and-Livelihoods-P127861.Google Scholar
Tadmouri, G. O., Nair, P., Obeid, T., Al Ali, M. T., Al Khaja, N. & Hamamy, H. A. (2009) Consanguinity and reproductive health among Arabs. Reproductive Health 6, 17.Google Scholar