One in 14 children who died in England between 2019 and 2023 had parents who were close blood relatives, according to the first study of its kind. The research, published by the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) at the University of Bristol, analysed all 13,045 child deaths in England over the period, finding that 926 (7%) were of children born to consanguineous parents, such as first cousins.
The study reveals stark ethnic and socioeconomic disparities. Of the deceased children with closely related parents, 79% were from an Asian ethnic background, most commonly Pakistani. Almost a third (30%) of children from Asian backgrounds who died had closely related parents, compared with 5% from Black backgrounds and 1% from white or mixed backgrounds. Additionally, more than half (52%) of these children lived in the most deprived areas of England, versus 5% in the least deprived.
Professor Karen Luyt, director of the NCMD and lead author, said: 'This is the first analysis of its kind globally. Seven per cent of child deaths were of children born to consanguineous parents. Action is urgently required to improve outcomes for this group.' The study found that 59% of deaths among children with closely related parents were due to chromosomal, genetic, and congenital anomalies, compared with 27% overall.
An NHS spokesperson said: 'This report provides further clear evidence on the increased risk of genetic conditions and serious illness that having closely related parents carries. The NHS is running a small pilot to test whether nurses with specialist training could prevent deaths of vulnerable babies, targeted in areas where close-relative marriage is prevalent.'
