1.Associations between food expenditure, food consumption score, food adequacy, and food security level among prison officers in Malaysia
Mohamad Zulkefly Mohamad Yusop, ; Shamsul Azahari Zainal Badar ; Nur Aqilah Amalina Jaafar
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2026;32(No. 1):119-131
Introduction: Food security, defined as consistent access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food, remains a significant challenge in Malaysia, especially among lowincome households. This study examined associations between food expenditure,
food consumption, food adequacy, and food security among lower-ranking prison
officers in the B40 income group. Methods: Multistage sampling was used to select
study locations and prisons in Malaysia. Purposive sampling was used to select
420 officers, who completed a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Data
were analysed descriptively and through multiple linear regression to identify key
predictors of food security. Results: All respondents (100%) had acceptable Food
Consumption Scores (FCS), with 97.1% showing high food adequacy. However, the
vast majority (89.5%) were classified as at risk of food insecurity. Food spending was
predominantly directed towards staple cereals and animal proteins, such as chicken
and meat, while expenditure on fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was much
lower. Food expenditure was strongly linked to food insecurity (β =-0.588, p<0.001).
Similarly, food consumption score (β =-0.087, p=0.038) and food adequacy (β =-0.127,
p=0.003) were both negatively associated with food insecurity. Conclusion: Although
Malaysian prison officers generally had adequate diets, a substantial proportion of
households remained food insecure, particularly in terms of dietary diversity and
micronutrient intake. Household food expenditure, consumption scores, and food
adequacy were all linked to lower food insecurity.


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