THE COPING STRATEGIES INDEX (CSI)

In the past 7 days, have there been times that you did not have enough food to eat? Yes / No
(If NO Skip to next Question)

In the past 7 days, if there have been times when you did not have enough food or money to buy food, how often
has your household had to: (The frequency score varies from 0 to 7)

No. Food Security Coping Strategy Frequency Coping CSI =

Score Strategy Coping
(Number of Weight Strategy
days out of 7) 1=least severe, Weight x
2=moderate, frequency
3=severe,
4=very severe
A Rely on less preferred and less expensive foods 1
B Borrow food, or rely on help from a friend or relative 2

C Purchase food on credit 2

D Gather wild food, hunt or harvest immature crops 4

E Consume seed stock held for next season 3

F Send household members to eat elsewhere 2

G Limit portion size at mealtimes 1

H Restrict consumption by adults in order for small children to eat 2

I Feed working members at the expense of non-working members 2

J Reduce number of meals eaten in a day 2

K Skip entire days without eating 4

COPING STRATEGIES INDEX SCORE (Sum down the totals for each
……………….
individual strategy)