Cousin Marriage Hurts Child Survival

A cited study reports that children from first‑cousin unions have more than two years lower life expectancy at age five, on top of previously documented early‑life mortality risks. This implies lasting health penalties that persist beyond infancy for survivors. — If consanguinity inflicts large, long‑run health costs, public health policy, counseling, and immigration/family‑law debates need to reflect those risks rather than treating the practice as value‑neutral.