Health maintenance practices and healthcare experiences among international university students

Martin, Suzanne; Dyer, Jane M.

doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12524

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…There was a varied understanding of insurance coverage, supporting results found in the United States. 19,20 Nonetheless, no participants reported that cost might dissuade them from accessing appropriate health care. However, it is important to recognise the exception of HIV PrEP, which is not publicly funded for international students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The compulsory Australian Overseas Student Health Cover may complicate the issue, with complex terms and conditions varying among insurance companies. Two American studies have found that international students lack knowledge regarding insurance coverage, 19,20 although there are no Australian data. Nevertheless, it is likely that complex insurance creates challenges for students accessing health care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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International students' views on sexual health: a qualitative study at an Australian university

2020

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Background The number of international students at Australian universities is rapidly increasing, and they contribute significantly to Australia’s economy. However, concerns have been raised for the health and wellbeing of international students, and there is limited information concerning international students with regard to their sexual health. Methods: Overall, 13 individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 international students at an Australian university, aiming to understand the views and experiences of international students with regard to their sexual health and wellbeing. The interviews were analysed thematically, generating four themes. Results: Participants had a varied understanding of sexual consent, which often included concerns about the practicalities of saying ‘no’ to unwanted sexual interactions and misinformation about the effect of reporting sexual misconduct on their privacy and visa status. Cultural and familial taboos were often inherited, but many participants described an evolution of personal views and attitudes regarding topics such as sex before marriage and same-sex relationships, which had occurred since moving to Australia. Participants expressed that they received large amounts of information about sexual health, but often lacked the skills to navigate that information and access relevant support. Conclusions: These data, along with participants’ suggestions for future support and education, are important for understanding the complex experiences of international students at Australian universities, and should be considered when implementing future sexual health education and support programs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

International students' views on sexual health: a qualitative study at an Australian university

2020

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Transnational and localised constructions of wellbeing and health: International students’ anxious embodiments

Waters,

Lee

2024

Population Space and Place

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The global health crisis initiated by the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–2021) brought to the fore issues around bodily health and safety within the internationalisation of higher education. Rarely have these concerns been discussed in relation to international students, despite them being a central issue for students themselves and their family members ‘back home’. In this paper, we draw upon in‐depth interviews with UK‐based international postgraduate students to discuss how concepts of safety and bodily health are constructed geographically and transnationally, in conversation with family members ‘back home’ and, conversely, in their embedded and emplaced experiences as international students. The COVID‐19 pandemic provides a useful lens for considering these issues as it brought them into sharp relief as never before.

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Students’ perception of healthcare services and factors affecting their utilization at a Nigerian University: a cross-sectional study

Orok,

Nwifama,

Oni

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Healthcare service utilization among university students is critical for ensuring their health and academic success. This study was performed to determine the level of utilization as well as the perception and factors influencing the utilization of healthcare services by students at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). This research involved a cross-sectional survey in which a semi-structured online questionnaire was used to collect data and a multistage sampling technique was used to sample the students. The students’ perceptions were converted to scores by summing their responses across the questions. The total score for each student was compared against the midpoint of the possible score range. Perceptions with a total score greater than or equal to 12.5 were categorized as positive, while those with a total score less than 12.5 were categorized as negative. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of healthcare service utilization. Utilization of healthcare services, the key outcome variable, was defined as the frequency with which students accessed available health services. All analyses were carried out using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software. A total of 429 students participated in this study, majority of whom were females (304, 70.9%), with a mean age of 18.9 ± 1.7 years. Three hundred and seventy-five students (87.4%) reported utilizing healthcare services at the university of which 186 (43.4%) reported to occasionally utilize healthcare services in the university. A total of 33.1% perceived that the attitude of staff was poor, while 12.6% strongly disagreed that the healthcare staff were incompetent. Overall, the majority (287, 66.9%) of the students had a negative perception of the utilization of healthcare services. Approximately 16% agreed that the high cost of drugs affects their utilization, while 35.9% agreed that the services provided were too expensive. Predictors of healthcare service utilization included being over 20 years old (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.1–11.6), study level, with fourth-year students having the highest likelihood of utilization (AOR = 13.8, 95% CI: 5.1–37.4), and positive perception of healthcare staff attitude (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1–5.9). Students from lower-income families (< 200,000 Naira) were significantly more likely to utilize healthcare services (AOR = 39.2, 95% CI: 12.6–121.5). The study revealed that, despite widespread usage of healthcare services, students have a predominantly negative perception of these services. Key factors influencing healthcare utilization include age, study level, attitude of staff and family income. Addressing these barriers through targeted interventions can improve health outcomes and promote equitable access to quality healthcare. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-75573-0.

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Health maintenance practices and healthcare experiences among international university students

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

International students' views on sexual health: a qualitative study at an Australian university

International students' views on sexual health: a qualitative study at an Australian university

Transnational and localised constructions of wellbeing and health: International students’ anxious embodiments

Students’ perception of healthcare services and factors affecting their utilization at a Nigerian University: a cross-sectional study

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