| Sub-title | |
| Author | Luis Vassallo MD, FRCP, FRCPE, FRCPG |
| Abstract | Some data on various aspects of consanguinity in Malta obtained during a consanguinity survey to determine the mean coefficient of the Maltese Islands, is here presented. This study reports on the distribution of consanguinous marriages in Malta where complete data including marriages between 2nd cousins once removed (21/2) and 3rd cousins are available 1st cousin marriages were the commonest type of union in Malta prior to 1917. With the precipitous fall in consanguinity rates, after the 2nd World War, they are no longer the commonest type of cousin marriage. Complete year samples from 1950 to 1970 show the change in this pattern of frequency. The other interesting data denoting a previously high degree of inbreeding at the turn of the XXth century is the frequency of double cousin marriages with the consequent effect on the mean coefficient of inbreeding. In Europe, consanguinity rates fell during World War II. In Malta, on the contrary, the consanguinity rate for 1943 was the highest (4.4%) for years. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 01 |
| Pages | 37 - 38 |
| Date | 01/05/2003 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | consanguinity, in breeding, marriage |