Effects of Inbreeding on Mortality: A Study Among Three South Indian Communities

Document Type

Article

Authors

P Govinda Reddy, Madras University, Madras, India

Abstract

Three castes representing three socio-economic levels have been selected from Andhra Pradesh, South India for the present study. Consanguineous marriages are common among them albeit the frequency of sub-types differ significantly. Total mortality (including pre-natal mortality) is found to be two and a half times higher in the inbred sub-sample than in the non-inbred sub-sample. The inbreeding effects among the three castes have been found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01) for all categories of mortality except for abortions and miscarriages among two castes. Post-natal mortality is also positively correlated with the degree of inbreeding while pre-natal mortality does not show any trend. The magnitude of inbreeding effects on mortality (pre- and post-natal) is found to be greater among younger mothers.

Recommended Citation

Reddy, P Govinda (1985) "Effects of Inbreeding on Mortality: A Study Among Three South Indian Communities," Human Biology: Vol. 57: Iss. 1, Article 18.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol57/iss1/18