Health of overseas students attending an Australian university

The Asian students at Monash University, 80% of whom are seen at the University Health Service in any one year (and nearly all of them are seen over a three-year period) appear to be healthy and well-adjusted. They have no more and no less emotional problems than local students. The occasional severe breakdowns because of the difficulties that arise, impress themselves on memory, and can give rise to a false impression of the number of overseas students having severe emotional problems. The Asian students frequently have disorders of the upper part of the respiratory tract, especially hay fever. Their quieter behaviour makes them less accident prone. The Asian females show a much lower incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.