Lahore: Marriage between blood relatives remains prevalent in Punjab, with a significant link between education levels and the frequency of cousin marriages. An analysis by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics of data from the Punjab Household Panel Survey (PHPS) Baseline reveals that 61.7% of ever-married women in the region have married a blood relative.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, nearly half of these marriages, approximately 49%, occur between first cousins. The data further indicates that education plays a critical role in reducing consanguinity, with cousin marriage rates dropping from 69% among women with no formal education to 48% among women with higher education. This trend is consistent across both rural and urban settings and correlates with the educational levels of husbands as well.

Geographical differences are noted, but they are less influential than education. The analysis shows that 65.7% of rural women married a blood relative compared to 54% of their urban counterparts, a difference of nearly 12 percentage points. Age at first marriage also influences consanguinity; women marrying before age 16 are more likely to marry a relative, with the rate decreasing to 51% among those marrying at 26 years or older.

The study cautions against interpreting these findings as indicative of shifting trends over time due to sample limitations. The data sample comprises only ever-married women, skewing the results toward those who married early, who are more likely to marry relatives.

The findings have crucial public health implications, as consanguineous marriages are linked with certain genetic disorders and infant health outcomes. The concentration of cousin marriages among less-educated women and those marrying at a younger age underscores the need for education and awareness in conjunction with broader public health initiatives.

Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics offers an interactive dashboard to explore these marriage patterns and other demographic indicators in Punjab. The dashboard provides insights into consanguinity by education, geography, and age at first marriage, based on data from 18,599 ever-married women.