The NHS is educating midwives on the potential advantages of cousin marriages, despite these unions being linked to a heightened risk of birth defects, as reported by The Mail on Sunday.
The latest guidelines suggest that fears about congenital disease risks are often ‘overstated’ and ‘unwarranted,’ noting that ’85 to 90 percent of cousin couples do not have children with these conditions.’ In comparison, the national average for children born without such conditions stands at 98 percent.
While acknowledging that there are ‘risks to child health associated with close relative marriage,’ the guidance advises weighing these risks against the ‘potential benefits’ associated with this marital practice.
The document highlights that marrying a cousin, a practice fairly prevalent within the Pakistani community, can bring ‘economic advantages’ alongside ’emotional and social connections’ and ‘social capital.’
Furthermore, it advises healthcare staff against ‘stigmatizing’ South Asian or Muslim patients who have children with their cousins, emphasizing that this practice is ‘perfectly normal’ in certain cultures.
Critics, however, have condemned the NHS for seemingly overlooking what they describe as an ‘indefensible cultural practice.’
Richard Holden, a Tory MP campaigning to ban cousin marriage, said: ‘There are no benefits to marriage between first cousins, only massive downsides for health, welfare, individual rights and the cohesiveness of our society.’
The NHS has come under fire for teaching midwives the ‘benefits’ of cousin marriage despite it increasing the risk of birth defects (Stock image)
Close relative marriages remain particularly common in the Asian community (Stock image)
Oxford professor and director of the Pharos Foundation research institute, Patrick Nash, said: ‘This is on a par with recommending alcohol and smoking during pregnancy for their calming effects, while brushing over the absolutely horrendous consequences for mother and child.
‘There is no justification or excuse for this at all. Shame on the authors and shame on the Government for refusing to ban this indefensible cultural practice.’
The guidance was produced as part of NHS England’s Maternity Transformation Programme which aims to halve the number of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries by 2030.
The document, used as training for midwives, states that ‘discouraging cousin marriage is inappropriate’ and would be ‘alienating and ineffective’.
It adds: ‘The increased risk of genetic conditions among the offspring of close relative couples has often been exaggerated . . . leading to individuals feeling shamed and blamed.’
The guide says, ’85 to 90 per cent of cousin couples do not have affected children’, and adds: ‘Pakistani women in cousin marriages have been found to compare favourably to those in non-relative marriages’.
It argues that ‘marriage within the family can provide financial and social security at the individual, family and wider kinship levels’. The risk, says the guide, are ‘exaggerated’ and there has been an ‘unwarranted, narrow focus on close relative marriage’.
Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics, Michael Muthukrishna, said: ‘When marriage is restricted to family members, communities become more isolated, limiting social integration. This isolation is what has allowed for over-representation of radicalisation and grooming gangs.
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden, who is campaigning to ban cousin marriage, said the act would have ‘massive downsides for health, welfare, individual rights and the cohesiveness of our society’
‘Normalising cousin marriage doesn’t help mothers nor babies affected by the well-documented health risks of repeated inbreeding.’
The Mail on Sunday has previously found areas in the UK with cousin marriage are significantly more likely to claim benefits – owing to the higher levels of birth defects.
Last year, the Daily Mail revealed the deaths of more than two children a week in England are linked to their parents being closely related.
Figures show that up to 20 per cent of the children treated for congenital problems in cities such as Glasgow and Birmingham are of Pakistani descent, compared with 4 per cent in the wider population – and treating these problems costs the NHS billions.
An NHS spokesperson said: ‘The NHS absolutely recognises the genetic risks of consanguineous relationships, and where people consider entering into them we offer referral to genetics services so individuals understand the risks and can make informed decisions.’
