Abstract
Background: Consanguineous union is a common practice and the culturally preferred form of marriage in developing countries, including Iran, with several health-related and social adverse outcomes. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of consanguineous marriages and their sociodemographic correlates among marrying couples living in Zahedan, southeast of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 738 couples attending the Pre-Marriage Counselling Center in Zahedan, southeast Iran. All information was gathered during face-to-face interviews. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted using the forward likelihood ratio method to identify the correlates of consanguineous marriages. Results: The prevalence of consanguineous unions was 46.7% of the total marriages. First-cousin unions were the most frequent type, comprising 30.2% of total marital unions. The average inbreeding coefficient (F) in consanguineous couples was calculated as 0.0516 (95% CI: 0.0481-0.0551). Consanguinity was found to be associated with ages younger than 20 years, lower levels of education, rural residence, Balouch and Sistani ethnicity, lower income, parental consanguinity, and marriages arranged by parents. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the tradition of consanguineous unions is still a preferred practice among people living in southeast Iran, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. There is a need for health education programs to improve the knowledge of marrying couples about consanguineous marriages to reduce the potential risk of genetic disorders in offspring.