LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) - A hunger strike at the Southern Ohio Correctional facility here by prisoners protesting a change in visiting hours was in its third day today.

The hunger strike began Tuesday when 53 men in the "J block" refused breakfast. The movement spread to all but six prisoners later in the day, said Joe Ashley, a spokesman for the state Department of Rehabititation and Correction.

The change which sparked the protest cut visiting hours back from 9 1/2 hours a dayto four a day. Ashley said the cut-back was forced by personnel shortages at the maximum security prison.