Table 3: Difficulties to follow regular diet stratified by income.

- Low
(n=549)
Medium (n=327) High
(n=92)
P value
During the COVID-19 quarantine period.
Did you find it difficult to eat the foods you prefer due to food shortage at home?
- - - -
Never 359 (65.4) 236 (72.2) 71 (77.2) 0.09
Rarely 117 (21.3) 58 (17.7) 14 (15.2) -
Sometimes 64 (11.7) 31 (9.5) 7 (7.6) -
Often 9 (1.6) 2 (0.6) 0 -
Did you have to eat smaller meals due to food shortage at home - - - -
Never 441 (80.3) 287 (87.8) 80 (87) 0.01
Rarely 59 (10.7) 29 (8.9) 6 (6.5) -
Sometimes 44 (8) 11 (3.4) 6 (6.5) -
Often 5 (0.9) 0 0 -
Did you have to eat foods that were not your favourite due to food shortage at home - - - -
Never 426 (77.6) 275 (84.1) 77 (83.7) 0.03
Rarely 70 (12.8) 36 (11) 7 (7.6) -
Sometimes 44 (8) 15 (4.6) 8 (8.7) -
Often 9 (1.6) 1 (0.3) 0 -
Did you eat fewer meals per day (fewer than three) due to food shortage at home? - - - -
Never 446 (81.2) 286 (87.5) 84 (91.3) 0.005
Rarely 61 (11.1) 25 (7.6) 8 (8.7) -
Sometimes 30 (5.5) 10 (3.1) 0 -
Often 12 (2.2) 6 (1.8) 0 -

The data presented as frequency (%). The chi square test used to examine statistical differences between groups. P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. The low-income group were 3000-7000; medium 7001-<20000; high >20000.