Table 3.
Coping strategies adopted to minimize food insecurity
| Coping strategy | Frequency (n) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Eating less preferred foods | ||
| Never | 166 | 41.5 |
| Once a week | 95 | 23.8 |
| 4–6 days/week | 100 | 25.0 |
| Daily | 39 | 9.8 |
| Borrowing food or relying on help from friends and relatives | ||
| Never | 283 | 71.6 |
| Once/week | 59 | 14.9 |
| 4–6 days/week | 44 | 11.1 |
| Daily | 9 | 2.3 |
| Limiting portion sizes at meal times | ||
| Never | 201 | 50.5 |
| Once/week | 107 | 26.9 |
| 4–6 days/week | 73 | 18.3 |
| Daily | 17 | 4.3 |
| Limiting adult intake so that small children can eat | ||
| Never | 214 | 53.9 |
| Once/week | 83 | 20.9 |
| 4–6 days/week | 85 | 21.4 |
| Daily | 15 | 3.8 |
| Reducing the number of meals per day | ||
| Never | 214 | 54.3 |
| Once/week | 95 | 24.1 |
| 4–6 days/week | 73 | 18.5 |
| Daily | 12 | 3.0 |