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Consanguinity and deafness in Omani children
Mazin Al Khabori1, Michael A Patton
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Communication Disorders, Al Nahdha Hospital, Sultanate of Oman. nadiamaz@omantel.net.om
International Journal of Audiology
|January 16, 2008
Summary
Consanguineous marriages significantly increase the risk of deafness in Omani children. This study highlights a strong association between parental consanguinity and autosomal recessive deafness in the pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Deafness is a significant congenital disability.
- Consanguinity is a known risk factor for genetic disorders.
- Understanding genetic causes of deafness in specific populations is crucial for prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of consanguinity in the etiology of deafness among Omani children.
- To determine the frequency of consanguineous marriages among parents of deaf children.
- To explore the association between consanguinity and the prevalence of autosomal recessive deafness.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1400 questionnaires on deafness causes in Omani children (1986-2000).
- Data collected on parental consanguinity status and family history of hearing loss.
- Statistical comparison between consanguineous and non-consanguineous groups.
Main Results:
- 70% of deaf children had parents from consanguineous marriages, compared to 30% from non-consanguineous unions.
- First-cousin marriages were the most common type (70.16%) among consanguineous parents.
- 45% of all deaf children had other family members with hearing loss, with a higher incidence in the consanguineous group (29.7% vs. 15.3%).
Conclusions:
- A significantly higher rate of consanguinity exists among parents of deaf Omani children.
- Consanguinity is strongly associated with an increased frequency of autosomal recessive deafness in this pediatric population.
- These findings underscore the public health implications of consanguineous marriages for genetic disorders in Oman.
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