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Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia

59 (3) 2025 109 – 119

Coping with Food Insecurity among Low-Income Households in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Menangani Ketidakjaminan Makanan dalam Kalangan Isi Rumah Berpendapatan Rendah di Lembah Klang, Malaysia

Department of Agribusiness and Bioresource Economics
Faculty of Agriculture
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

ainuna9524@gmail.com

Department of Agribusiness and Bioresource Economics
Faculty of Agriculture
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

nurulnadia.ramli@upm.edu.my

Putra Business School
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

mns@upm.edu.my

Department of Agribusiness and Bioresource Economics
Faculty of Agriculture
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

markbuda@upm.edu.my

Abstract

Food insecurity occurs whenever the availability and accessibility to obtain adequate and safe food are limited or uncertain. Thus, coping strategies are temporary actions and modifications taken to escape food insecurity among households. The objective of this study is to develop a coping strategies index and identify the factors influencing the coping mechanisms adopted by low-income households in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The Coping Strategies Index (CSI) and ordinal logistic regression were used in the study. Four dimensions from the CSI manual were used to determine the coping strategies index: dietary change, short-term measures to increase food availability, short-term measures to decrease the number of people to feed, and rationing strategies. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing the coping strategies. The results suggested that 11.36%, 43.21%, 38.75%, and 6.68% of the respondents used low, mildly, moderately, and severely coping strategies, respectively. The results (pseudo-R虏 = 0.278) revealed that sociodemographic factors significantly influenced coping strategy levels. Key predictors included gender, race, and receiving assistance from NGOs, which were statistically significant at the 5% level, indicating that these factors can influence the coping strategies households use. Specifically, male households were more likely to use more severe coping mechanisms. The results suggest that financial and food assistance are needed to help this vulnerable group of households cope with rising living costs and, consequently, improve their livelihoods.

Keywords

coping strategies; coping strategies index; Food insecurity; urban low-income households; zero poverty
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Ahmad Azuddin, A. H., Ramli, N. N., Shamsudin, M. N., & Buda, M. (2025). Coping with Food Insecurity among Low-Income Households in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 59(3), 109–119. http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2025-5903-8

@article{azuddin2025coping,
  title={Coping with Food Insecurity among Low-Income Households in Klang Valley, Malaysia},
  author={Ahmad Azuddin, Ainatul Husna and Ramli, Nurul Nadia and Shamsudin, Mad Nasir and Buda, Mark},
  journal={Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia},
  volume={59},
  number={3},
  pages={109—119},
 

year={2025},
}

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