Factors affecting perceptions of prisoners on food security in Malawi’s prisons

Hasings B. Moloko¹*, Davis H. Ng’ong’ola², Joseph Dzanja² and Thabie Chilongo²

¹University of Malawi,

²Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

*Correspondence author. E-mail: hmoloko@poly.ac.mw +265888843209

Accepted 10 May, 2017

Abstract

While Malawi’s per capita cereal production may be higher than her per capita cereal consumption, Malawi is a net cereal importer and thus food insecure. The food situation is much worse in Malawi’s prisons because inmates generally eat one meal per day. The objective of this study was to delineate factors that affect perceptions of prisoners on food security in Malawi prisons. Using structured questionnaires in face to face interviews, the study collected data from 1000 prisoners and 30 officers-in-charge from all prisons in the country. The data was analyzed using Stata 12. Results from the analysis showed that inmate numbers, how far from prison the prisoners’ home was, meals per week received from home, prisoners’ socioeconomic status, age of officer-in-charge, sex of officer-in-charge, education of officer-in-charge, farmland size, log of subvention, education of prisoner, and age of prisoner were factors that in various ways and at various levels of significance affected the perceptions of prisoners on food security in Malawi’s prisons.

Key words: Malawi’s prisons, food insufficiency, food security, perception of prisoners.