.18) 599 (37.82) 1,#Skilled occupational group; Unskilled occupational groupGujranwala (0.0323), Sahiwal (0.0295), Sialkot (0.0261), and Quetta (0.0217) (15,17,25,26). Compared to the regional cultures, the ICF in Bhimber, Kashmir, was higher than in the populations of Indonesia (0.0095); Muslims in West Bengal, India (0.0135); Muslims in Bihar, India (0.0076); Muslims in Delhi, India (0.0180); Muslims in Lucknow, India (0.0095); tribal Turkmen in Iran (0.0077); Bahrain (0.0152); Baghdad, Iraq (0.0225); and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (0.0174) (27-34). Estimate of consanguinity in Bhimber was also higher than the Kashmiri community residing in the UK (20). However, ICF in Bhimber was lower than tribal Qashqai population of Iran (0.0392), and several Tamil populations of South India (0.0390) (35-36). It was further observed that the FC marriages were the most common type of unions among the CU as well as in the total marriages. Previous studies from Arab and Muslim communities in North Africa, most of west, central and south Asia, and Pakistan showed high prevalence of the FC marriages among CU (2-4,9,11,26) The custom of marrying a close relative is deeply embedded in the cultural norms of Pakistani society in general and is also evident in the Kashmiri population (1-3). Despite the cultural preferences for marrying within blood-connected relatives, it is pertinent to identify various sociodemographic variables associated with consanguinity. The current study showed that CU was higher in certainVolume 32 | Number 2 | Junesociodemographic strata. For instance, among the three tehsils of Bhimber district, CU and ICF were the highest in Samahni. Likewise, with respect to language, consanguinity was observed to be the highest in subjects speaking Pahari. POR-8 web Pahari and Punjabi languages have different origins. Pahari is mainly spoken in Samahni tehsil whereas Punjabi is more common in Bhimber and Barnala tehsils and is considered the language of tribes who migrated from upper Punjab and settled in Kashmir. In the present study, there was a declining trend in CU and ICF with respect to the increasing age of the subjects, i.e. consanguinity was higher in the younger population compared to the older sample. This trend may indirectly be interpreted as a time-dependent increase in consanguinity in this population. It has been previously established that the prevalence of CU among Muslims in Pakistan remained stable over the four-decade assessment period of demographic study, and there was no evidence to suggest that a decline in CU is likely in the near future (1,2). A significant increase in the incidence of consanguinity over the years has been observed in Swat, Pakistan (37). The gradual increase in the incidence of CU may partly be attributed to the deteriorating law-and-order situation at the line-of-control Isoarnebin 4 chemical information between AJK and Indian-occupied Kashmir, which caused separation of hundreds of families and might have reduced the mate choice. To further investigate the temporal rise in consanguinity in the Kashmiri population, it would beConsanguinity in Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, PakistanJabeen N and Malik STable 4. Relative percentages of the types of marriage with respect to occupation and literacy of spouses Consanguineous ( ) Parameter DFC FC FCOR SC Non-consanguineous ( ) Second cousin once removed 2.21 1.66 1.94 1.93 1.49 2.41 0.65 1.16 2.6 2.74 3.64 0 1.86 2.06 0 0 0 1.49 1.88 2.3 1.53 2.11 1.9 1.8 1.28 2.57 2.27 1.83 Distantly Nonrelated related Total s..18) 599 (37.82) 1,#Skilled occupational group; Unskilled occupational groupGujranwala (0.0323), Sahiwal (0.0295), Sialkot (0.0261), and Quetta (0.0217) (15,17,25,26). Compared to the regional cultures, the ICF in Bhimber, Kashmir, was higher than in the populations of Indonesia (0.0095); Muslims in West Bengal, India (0.0135); Muslims in Bihar, India (0.0076); Muslims in Delhi, India (0.0180); Muslims in Lucknow, India (0.0095); tribal Turkmen in Iran (0.0077); Bahrain (0.0152); Baghdad, Iraq (0.0225); and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (0.0174) (27-34). Estimate of consanguinity in Bhimber was also higher than the Kashmiri community residing in the UK (20). However, ICF in Bhimber was lower than tribal Qashqai population of Iran (0.0392), and several Tamil populations of South India (0.0390) (35-36). It was further observed that the FC marriages were the most common type of unions among the CU as well as in the total marriages. Previous studies from Arab and Muslim communities in North Africa, most of west, central and south Asia, and Pakistan showed high prevalence of the FC marriages among CU (2-4,9,11,26) The custom of marrying a close relative is deeply embedded in the cultural norms of Pakistani society in general and is also evident in the Kashmiri population (1-3). Despite the cultural preferences for marrying within blood-connected relatives, it is pertinent to identify various sociodemographic variables associated with consanguinity. The current study showed that CU was higher in certainVolume 32 | Number 2 | Junesociodemographic strata. For instance, among the three tehsils of Bhimber district, CU and ICF were the highest in Samahni. Likewise, with respect to language, consanguinity was observed to be the highest in subjects speaking Pahari. Pahari and Punjabi languages have different origins. Pahari is mainly spoken in Samahni tehsil whereas Punjabi is more common in Bhimber and Barnala tehsils and is considered the language of tribes who migrated from upper Punjab and settled in Kashmir. In the present study, there was a declining trend in CU and ICF with respect to the increasing age of the subjects, i.e. consanguinity was higher in the younger population compared to the older sample. This trend may indirectly be interpreted as a time-dependent increase in consanguinity in this population. It has been previously established that the prevalence of CU among Muslims in Pakistan remained stable over the four-decade assessment period of demographic study, and there was no evidence to suggest that a decline in CU is likely in the near future (1,2). A significant increase in the incidence of consanguinity over the years has been observed in Swat, Pakistan (37). The gradual increase in the incidence of CU may partly be attributed to the deteriorating law-and-order situation at the line-of-control between AJK and Indian-occupied Kashmir, which caused separation of hundreds of families and might have reduced the mate choice. To further investigate the temporal rise in consanguinity in the Kashmiri population, it would beConsanguinity in Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, PakistanJabeen N and Malik STable 4. Relative percentages of the types of marriage with respect to occupation and literacy of spouses Consanguineous ( ) Parameter DFC FC FCOR SC Non-consanguineous ( ) Second cousin once removed 2.21 1.66 1.94 1.93 1.49 2.41 0.65 1.16 2.6 2.74 3.64 0 1.86 2.06 0 0 0 1.49 1.88 2.3 1.53 2.11 1.9 1.8 1.28 2.57 2.27 1.83 Distantly Nonrelated related Total s.