Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia

Access to food has been determined to be a factor that strongly influences the dietary intake and eating habit of indigenous people (Orang Asli, OA). This study explored food acquisition and the barriers in obtaining traditional and market foods among the Jahai subtribe (within the Negrito ethnic gr...

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Main Authors: Gan, Wan Ying, Sulaiman, Norhasmah, Law, Leh Shii, Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda, Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza, Wilkes, Martin A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2020
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38181/1/38181.pdf
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author Gan, Wan Ying
Sulaiman, Norhasmah
Law, Leh Shii
Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda
Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza
Wilkes, Martin A.
author_facet Gan, Wan Ying
Sulaiman, Norhasmah
Law, Leh Shii
Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda
Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza
Wilkes, Martin A.
author_sort Gan, Wan Ying
collection UPM
description Access to food has been determined to be a factor that strongly influences the dietary intake and eating habit of indigenous people (Orang Asli, OA). This study explored food acquisition and the barriers in obtaining traditional and market foods among the Jahai subtribe (within the Negrito ethnic group) via a qualitative approach. Twenty-eight OA (14 males and 14 females) from Gerik, Perak, Malaysia participated in four focus group discussions (FGDs; two male-only and two female-only groups; seven informants in each FGD). Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the gathered data. The results found that the Jahai applied both modern (buying and receiving food assistance) and traditional (gathering, farming, fishing, and hunting) methods in obtaining food. The barriers they faced in gathering sufficient food supply included low purchasing power, high demand for food, high transport costs, depletion of food supplies in their surroundings, threats from wild animals on the farm and during food searching activities, and food sharing. Food preparation methods practiced by the OA include roasting and grilling, frying, simmering (gulai), and boiling. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the dietary behaviour of the Jahai subtribe and highlights restricted food access among the OA, which demands urgent attention.
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spelling upm.eprints-381812020-05-03T23:04:02Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38181/ Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia Gan, Wan Ying Sulaiman, Norhasmah Law, Leh Shii Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza Wilkes, Martin A. Access to food has been determined to be a factor that strongly influences the dietary intake and eating habit of indigenous people (Orang Asli, OA). This study explored food acquisition and the barriers in obtaining traditional and market foods among the Jahai subtribe (within the Negrito ethnic group) via a qualitative approach. Twenty-eight OA (14 males and 14 females) from Gerik, Perak, Malaysia participated in four focus group discussions (FGDs; two male-only and two female-only groups; seven informants in each FGD). Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the gathered data. The results found that the Jahai applied both modern (buying and receiving food assistance) and traditional (gathering, farming, fishing, and hunting) methods in obtaining food. The barriers they faced in gathering sufficient food supply included low purchasing power, high demand for food, high transport costs, depletion of food supplies in their surroundings, threats from wild animals on the farm and during food searching activities, and food sharing. Food preparation methods practiced by the OA include roasting and grilling, frying, simmering (gulai), and boiling. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the dietary behaviour of the Jahai subtribe and highlights restricted food access among the OA, which demands urgent attention. MDPI 2020 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38181/1/38181.pdf Gan, Wan Ying and Sulaiman, Norhasmah and Law, Leh Shii and Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda and Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza and Wilkes, Martin A. (2020) Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1). art. no. 348. pp. 1-12. ISSN 1661-7827; ESSN: 1660-4601 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/348 10.3390/ijerph17010348
spellingShingle Gan, Wan Ying
Sulaiman, Norhasmah
Law, Leh Shii
Zalbahar @ Zabaha, Nurzalinda
Ahmad Fuzi, Salma Faeza
Wilkes, Martin A.
Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title_full Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title_fullStr Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title_short Exploration of food-seeking behaviour, food preparation, and restrictions to sufficient food among the Jahai sub-tribe (indigenous people) in Gerik, Malaysia
title_sort exploration of food seeking behaviour food preparation and restrictions to sufficient food among the jahai sub tribe indigenous people in gerik malaysia
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38181/1/38181.pdf
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