A large number of international students get pregnant unexpectedly in Australia, seeking abortion. (SBS pictures)
A large number of international students with unwanted pregnancies have prompted us to reflect on whether we can do our best to better provide sexual health knowledge to these international students living in Australia.
Like many Chinese students of the same age, Li (Lee) began studying "physiological differences between adolescent boys and girls" when he first went to high school, according to SBS. However, after high and middle grades, she has not received any sex education.
"it`s only in textbooks, that`s all." "the teachers will give us a brief introduction, but they never touch the details," she told SBS:. Students need to quickly grasp this new knowledge in the short term.
Last year, the 21-year-old Chinese student at the University of Melbourne, (Melbourne university), found himself pregnant.
"I was confused and confused," Li said. Later, she detailed her search for abortion in Australia on Weibo. "I wish I could help those who are in the same position as I am."
Reproductive health experts who have spoken to overseas students say many are facing a similar situation.
About 4000 international students seek abortion every year across the country, estimates (Marie Stopes International), a fertility-care firm. Fertility Control Clinic, a Melbourne clinic that offers abortion services, also told SBS they can see at least one foreign student a day.
Earlier (University of Adelaide) studies at the University of Adelaide also found that 1/3 of abortion operations at the Adelaide Women`s and Children`s Hospital (Women's and Children's Hospital) involved international students.
Appeal to schools to focus on sex education
These abortion figures have led some to question whether schools and health departments are not doing enough to educate international students.
Coello (Alison Coelho), from the Center for Culture, Race and Health, is also head of (International Students Sexual Health Network), an international student sexual health network. "they should do more," Coello said, and through a more comprehensive package, "we will see a sharp drop in the number of unwanted pregnancies and a reduction in the rate of sexually transmitted infections among this group, referring to international students."
In the first 11 months of last year, more than 620000 international students came to Australia to study, breaking an all-time record, according to the Federal Ministry of Education. Nearly 1/3 of the students, like Ms. Li, come from China. This was followed by international students from India (68227), Nepal (28535), Malaysia (25898) and Brazil (23748).
Coello said most of the affected students were from Southeast Asia or Africa, and some of them lacked even a basic understanding of anatomy, "not to mention how to protect themselves or promote safe sex."
