Genetics of consanguineous marriage: Impact and importance of counseling

Consanguineous marriage, marriage between close biological kin, especially that between first cousins, is socially favored in some parts of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. An increased rate of congenital anomalies and autosomal recessive disorders are significantly associated with such practice. In such communities, misunderstanding and external attempts to discourage such marriage without proper genetic counseling seem to be inappropriate and unsuccessful. Update in knowledge of clinicians especially pediatricians is the aim of this paper regarding importance and issues behind consanguineous marriage.