Question

What health risks might children of close kinship marriages face? Please explain the connection between close kinship marriage and genetic disorders.

Answer

Children born to close kinship marriages may face an increased risk of genetic disorders due to a higher likelihood of sharing identical recessive disease-causing genes among relatives. In such cases, the probability of children inheriting certain recessive genetic diseases rises. Additionally, close kinship marriages may also increase the risk of intellectual disabilities, miscarriage, and stillbirth. Our Marriage Law stipulates that direct blood relatives and collateral relatives within three generations are prohibited from marriage to reduce the incidence of genetic disorders.