Consanguinity and genetic diseases among the Bedouin population in the Negev

Arab Bedouins (AB) in Israel are traditionally a semi-nomadic population. Their average birth rate is extremely high (birth rate of 5.43, as well is their high consanguinity rate (44%), despite having decreased from 60% in 1992. Additionally, their mean inbreeding coefficient is 0.0238.The high rate of consanguinity results in a high prevalence of recessive genetic and multifactorial disorders as well as high infant mortality rate (11 per 1000...