Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies amongst Undergraduate Students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.19.2.35
- Author:
Sharifah Munirah Syed Elias
1
;
Nur Suhailie Ibrahim
2
;
Sutantri Sutantri
3
Author Information
1. Department of Special Care Nursing, Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
2. Darul Makmur Medical Centre, Jalan Kempadang Makmur, Taman Kempadang Makmur, 26060 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
3. Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Kampus Terpadu UMY, Jl. Brawijaya, Kasihan, Bantul, 55183Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Food insecurity, Coping strategies, Undergraduate students, Malaysia
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2023;19(No.2):242-249
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Undergraduate students are at a high risk for food insecurity and knowledge on relevant coping strategies is the key issue in dealing with food insecurity. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the food insecurity
status, coping strategies, and the factors associated with food insecurity and coping strategies during the COVID-19
pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 383 undergraduate students from health-related courses
at the International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan campus. The participants were selected by convenience
sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire consisting of three parts:
socio-demographic background, food insecurity, and coping strategies. The data were analysed as descriptive and
inferential analyses, such as Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: It was found that 21.41% of
the participants reported experiencing food insecurity. There were significant associations between parents’ income
(p<0.001), financial status (p<0.001), academic performance (p = 0.04) and working part-time (p = 0.01) with food
insecurity. It was also discovered that there were significant associations between working part-time (p<0.001),
faculty of study (p<0.001), academic year (p<0.001), financial status (p<0.001), academic cumulative grade point
average (CGPA) (p<0.001) and monthly expenses (p = 0.01) with Malaysian Coping Strategies Instruments (MCSI)
score. A significant association between food insecurity and MCSI score (p<0.001) was also found in this study.
Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was consistent with previous studies, which is considered high in
Malaysia. The findings could assist university authorities to identify the characteristics of the students that are related
to food insecurity.
- Full text:11.2023my1485.pdf
