An extensive survey of problems encountered by foreign students of the University of the Ryukyus and the resulting levels of stress was carried out in order to determine the main stressors hindering academic progress and personal adjustment. Subjectively perceived stress levels after arrival in Japan were obtained from 134 subjects through a comprehensive questionnaire for reporting speci®c stressors. The 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was included to assess mental health state. Differences in scores by area of origin were also determined for the total GHQ scores and its sub-scales. The GHQ results showed that regardless of length of time in Japan, more than 60% of the subjects scored within a range usually indicative of a mental health risk. Mean scores by area of origin showed a 50% reduction over time for non-Chinese Asians and North American/ Europeans, but only a reduction of 1.1% or less for Chinese, Latin American, Middle/Near Eastern and African subjects. Limitations in achievement of academic goals were reported by the greatest number of students as causing moderate to excessive stress (57.5%); most frequently reported causes were language inadequacy (55.2%), reference materials unavailable (34.3%), unfamiliarity with Japanese study methods (32.1%), and inadequate guidance from teachers/advisors (26.9%). Various social, personal and daily life problems in the non-academic setting were also reported as causing high stress levels. Most of the stressors identi®ed are not considered inevitable and point toward directions to pursue in preventive strategies in mitigating psychological distress and maladjustment of students.

This study examines the hypothesis that people who have more contact with PWAs (people living with AIDS) are more tolerant than those who have no contact with them. Four provinces with different incidence of AIDS in 4 different regions of Thailand were selected. Structured questionnaire interviews were conducted with village people, asking about their history of contact with PWAs, and knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and PWAs (n = 434). An 'Attitude Score', which indicates an accepting attitude (or tolerance) toward HIV/AIDS and PWAs, was developed using the results of the questionnaire on attitudes. Six factors: sex, education, age, province, knowledge, and history of contact with PWAs were positively correlated with the Attitude Score. After a multiple regression analysis, contact with PWAs was significantly associated with Attitude Score. This study is one of the first analytical studies conducted in a non-Western country to show that people's tolerant attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and PWAs are positively related to their history of contact with HIV/AIDS and PWAs. This findings should have important implications for future educational programmes and preventative intervention.

This study examines social and behavioral factors associated with condom use among female commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Tarlac, the Philippines. One hundred and twenty-one CSWs who visited a social hygiene clinic for regular check-ups were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire with thirty-one items. More than 80% of the respondents had experience of using condoms with clients. However, only 48% of them used consistently. Six factors, level of education, knowledge of condom application, knowledge of condom effectiveness for preventing AIDS, knowledge of AIDS, use of other contraceptives, and sex premise managers' advice about using condoms, were significantly associated with their condom use by bivariate analyses. Following a logistic regression analysis, three variables, education, knowledge of condom effectiveness, and sex premise managers' advice, were revealed to be independently associated with consistent condom use. We recommend that managers of sex premises take an active role in advocating condom use, and that the effectiveness of condoms as an AIDS preventative be emphasized in future educational and interventional programs.

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