Chapter 5: Results – Reaching different groups of students
5.3 International versus domestic comparisons
Of the 502 complete responses to the Student Survey, 404 respondents identified as domestic students and 98 identified as international students.
Sexual experience
In the Student Survey 25.5% of domestic respondents and 11.2% of international students had had sexual intercourse with two or more partners or oral sex with two or more partners in the past year and were classed as the higher-risk group. This difference between these two distributions was statistically significant (X2 (1, N = 502) = 9.15, p = .002).
Testing
International students were significantly less likely to be tested than domestic students (X2 (1, N = 357) = 8.93, p = .012). While 58.1% of domestic students had ever been tested, only 37.0% of international students reported testing. This pattern continued when looking only at tests occurring in the past twelve months, with 29.0% of domestic students tested and only 16.7% of internationals (X2 (1, N = 357) = 8.73, p = .033).
When analysing why students had not been tested, ‘my behaviours aren’t risky’ and ‘I haven’t had many sexual partners’ were the most commonly selected options for both international and domestic students (Table 5.8). Amongst international students ‘my behaviours aren’t risky’ (64.7%) was the most common response, followed by ‘I haven’t had many sexual partners’ (58.8%) and in third place ‘it’s embarrassing’ (35.3%). Among domestic students ‘I haven’t had many sexual partners’ (62.2%) was the most common response, followed by ‘my behaviours aren’t risky’ (59.8%) and ‘I always use protection’ (31.5%). No comparisons yielded statistically significant differences.
Table 5.8 – Reasons for having never received a sexual health test by response frequency rank and percentage of nationality
Reason International rank and
(%) n = 34
Domestic rank and (%) n = 127
My behaviours aren't risky 1 (64.7%) 2 (59.8%)
I haven't had many sexual partners 2 (58.8%) 1 (62.2%)
It's embarrassing 3 (35.3%) 4 (19.7%)
I always use protection 4 (32.4%) 3 (31.5%)
I don't know where to get tested 5 (20.6%) 5 (18.1%)
I don't have the time 6 (17.6%) 7 (12.6%)
I'm afraid of doctors 7 (8.8%) 10 (3.9%)
I haven't had sex 8 (5.9%) 8 (5.5%)
It's far away / difficult to get to 8 (5.9%) 10 (3.9%)
I can't afford it 10 (2.9%) 9 (4.7%)
Other 11 (0.0%) 6 (17.3%)
Previous sexual health learning experiences
Amongst domestic students 92.8% of respondents had received sex education in their high school, compared to only 57.1% of international students (Figure 5.2). This difference was statistically significant, (X2 (2, N = 502) = 85.49, p = < .001). Of those who had received sex education, 41.9% of domestic students felt it was relevant or very relevant, compared to 42.9% of international students.
Domestic students were more likely to have attended a university sexual health promotion than international students (11.9% versus 6.1%). Of those who had attended a sexual health promotion event at university, 68.8% of domestic students said it was relevant or very relevant, compared to 50% of international students.
Figure 5.2 - Comparison of previous sexual health learning experiences by nationality (n=502)
Those respondents who had not attended any university sexual health promotions were asked to select all the factors that most discouraged them from attending. Among international students the most commonly selected responses were ‘I haven’t seen any advertised’ (40.2%), ‘I don’t have the time’ (31.5%) and ‘I haven’t had sex’ (31.5%) (Table 5.9). Among domestic students the most commonly selected responses were ‘I haven’t seen any advertised’ (46.6%) and ‘I already know enough about sexual health’ (41.6%). This reason was the only one to show a significant difference between the groups (X2 (1, N = 448) = 15.18, p < .001), with international students choosing ‘I already know enough about sexual health’ less than half as often as domestic students.
0 25 50 75 100
Received high school sex education Attended university sexual health
promotion P rop or ti on of s tu de nt r es pon se s (%) Domestic International
Table 5.9 – Reasons for having never attended university sexual health promotions by response frequency rank and percentage of nationality
Reason International rank and (%)
n = 92
Domestic rank and (%) n = 356
I haven't seen any advertised 1 (40.2%) 1 (46.6%)
I don't have the time 2 (31.5%) 4 (29.8%)
I haven't had sex 2 (31.5%) 6 (24.2%)
My behaviours aren't risky 4 (27.2%) 3 (34.6%)
It's embarrassing 4 (27.2%) 5 (27.8%)
It would be boring 6 (19.6%) 8 (14.9%)
I already know enough about sexual health
6 (19.6%) 2 (41.6%)**
I haven't had many sexual partners 8 (18.5%) 7 (19.1%)
I always use protection 9 (9.8%) 9 (11.8%)
They are far away / difficult to get to 10 (7.6%) 11 (6.5%)
Other 11 (3.3%) 10 (6.7%)
Significantly higher than the other group at: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01
Sexual health promotion preferences and provision
International and domestic students displayed different preferences in terms of event type (Table 5.10). For domestic students social events with a sexual health message (1st) and guest speakers (2nd) were the most popular event types. These were also the most frequently reported type of event held in the Promotion Survey. In contrast, the top two choices of international students were the least likely events to have taken place. These options, sexual health testing (X2 (1, N = 160) = 22.49, p < .001) and relevant movies (X2 (1, N = 160) = 20.15, p < .001) were in significantly higher demand than supply. Despite ranking third and fourth respectively, demand from domestic students for sexual health testing (X2 (1, N = 466) = 20.29, p < .001) and relevant movies (X2 (1, N = 466) = 9.99, p = .002) was also significantly higher than the supply of these events.
Table 5.10 – Event preferences by response frequency rank and percentage of respondents for international and domestic groups compared with events run
Event type International rank
and (%) n = 98
Domestic rank and (%) n = 404
Event rank and (%)
n = 62
Sexual health testing 1 (40.8%) HH 3 (34.9%) HH 6 (6.5%)
Relevant movie 1 (40.8%) HH 4 (26.5%) HH 5 (8.1%)
Guest speaker 3 (35.7%) LL 2 (43.6%) 2 (56.5%)
Social event with a sexual health message
4 (32.7%) LL 1 (48.8%) LL 1 (72.6%)
Workshop 5 (30.6%) 6 (15.1%) LL 3 (35.5%)
Question & answer panel 6 (22.4%) 5 (25.7%) 3 (35.5%)
Other 7 (1.0%) 7 (2.2%) 7 (1.6%)
Student interest was significantly higher than event provision at: H p < 0.05, HH p < 0.01
Student interest was significantly lower than event provision at: L p < 0.05, LL p < 0.01
Sexual health topics
Out of 30 listed topics, 13 showed a statistically significant difference between international student selection and the topics currently featuring in university sexual health events (Table 5.11). Among these topics only two showed significantly higher international student demand than event supply. These were abortion (ranked 13th, X2 (1, N = 160) = 6.09, p = .014) and pornography (ranked 23rd, X2 (1, N = 160) = 4.17, p = .041). The top three topics for international students were safe sex (1st), women’s health (2nd) and sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention (3rd).
For domestic students, 19 topics showed a statistically significant difference between domestic selection and the topics currently featuring in university sexual health events. In 10 of these topics domestic demand was significantly higher than event supply. These topics include women’s health (ranked 2nd, X2 (1, N = 466) = 5.05, p = .025), pleasure (4th, X2 (1, N = 466) = 11.38, p < .001) and different cultural expectations around sex (6th, X2 (1, N = 466) = 10.10, p = .001). The top three topics for domestic students were respectful relationships (1st), women’s health (2nd) and sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention (3rd).
Table 5.11 – Topic preferences by response frequency rank and percentage of international and domestic groups compared with events run
Topics International rank and (%) n = 98 Domestic rank and (%) n = 404 Event rank and (%) n = 62 Safe sex 1 (60.2%) L 12 (37.1%) LL 1 (79.0%)
Women's health issues (e.g. cervical cancer)
2 (40.8%) 2 (47.5%) H 14 (32.3%)
Sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention
3 (37.8%) 3 (44.3%) 6 (53.2%)
HIV/AIDS 4 (35.7%) 23 (24.8%) LL 10 (40.3%)
Pleasure 5 (34.7%) 4 (43.6%) HH 20 (21.0%)
Different cultural expectations about sex 6 (31.6%) 6 (40.3%) HH 21 (19.4%)
Respectful relationships 6 (31.6%) LL 1 (47.8%) L 4 (62.9%)
Who to contact for sexual health support
6 (31.6%) LL 9 (37.9%) LL 5 (58.1%)
Emergency contraception (e.g. the morning after pill)
9 (30.6%) 11 (37.6%) 17 (25.8%)
Men's health issues (e.g. testicular cancer)
9 (30.6%) 7 (38.4%) H 19 (24.2%)
Condoms 11 (28.6%) LL 27 (21.0%) LL 2 (77.4%)
The pill 11 (28.6%) 13 (35.4%) 17 (25.8%)
Abortion 13 (25.5%) H 14 (35.1%) HH 24 (9.7%)
Domestic violence prevention 14 (24.5%) 9 (37.9%) 15 (29.0%)
Alternative barrier methods (e.g. dams, female condoms)
15 (22.4%) L 23 (24.8%) L 12 (37.1%)
Alcohol and sex 16 (21.4%) LL 16 (32.2%) L 8 (48.4%)
Consent 16 (21.4%) LL 5 (41.6%) LL 3 (71.0%)
Gay, lesbian and bisexuality issues 16 (21.4%) LL 18 (29.5%) LL 6 (53.2%)
STI statistics 19 (20.4%) L 19 (28.7%) 13 (35.5%)
STI testing 19 (20.4%) L 15 (34.4%) 11 (38.7%)
STI impacts/symptoms 21 (17.3%) LL 8 (38.1%) 9 (41.9%)
Sexting and digital privacy 22 (16.3%) 20 (27.7%) H 23 (12.9%)
Dating and hook up apps/websites (e.g. Tinder and Grindr)
23 (15.3%) 25 (24.0%) HH 27 (6.5%)
Pornography 23 (15.3%) H 21 (26.7%) HH 28 (4.8%)
Long acting reversible contraception (e.g. implanon, IUDs)
25 (14.3%) 17 (31.9%) H 22 (16.1%)
Transgender and intersex issues 26 (13.3%) L 22 (25.0%) 16 (27.4%)
Anatomy 27 (10.2%) 28 (17.6%) H 28 (4.8%)
Abstinence 28 (9.2%) 29 (12.4%) 25 (8.1%)
Sex work 28 (9.2%) 26 (21.8%) H 25 (8.1%)
Other 30 (0.0%) 30 (3.0%) 30 (0.0%)
Student interest was significantly higher than event provision at: H p < 0.05, HH p < 0.01
Incentives and motivating factors to attend
The incentive preferences of both international and domestic students generally matched those provided at events. For both international student and domestic students the most frequently chosen incentive was free food and/or non-alcoholic drinks, with 46.9% and 54.5% of the respective groups selecting this option (Table 5.12). There were no incentives where international demand was statistically greater than event supply. Free alcohol was the only incentive where domestic student demand was significantly higher than event supply (37.4%, X2 (1, N = 466) = 12.46, p < .001).
Table 5.12 – Incentive preferences by response frequency rank and percentage of international and domestic groups compared with events run
International rank and (%) n = 98 Domestic rank and (%) n = 404 Event rank and (%) n = 62 Free food and/or non-alcoholic drinks 1 (46.9%) L 1 (54.5%) 1 (66.1%)
Combined with social activity (e.g. party, movie night)
2 (34.7%) 2 (45.8%) 2 (45.2%)
Free alcohol 3 (22.4%) 3 (37.4%) HH 4 (14.5%)
Other 4 (3.1%) 4 (5.9%) 3 (19.4%)
Student interest was significantly higher than event provision at: H p < 0.05, HH p < 0.01
Student interest was significantly lower than event provision at: L p < 0.05, LL p < 0.01
The main motivating factors for international and domestic students were similar. In both groups ‘knowing a friend who was going’ was the most common factor and free food and social activity were in the top four preferences (Table 5.13). However domestic students were statistically more likely to select free alcohol (X2 (1, N = 502) = 7.78, p = .005), combined with social activity (X2 (1, N = 502) = 3.95, p = .047), free giveaways (X2 (1, N = 502) = 7.30, p = .007) and knowing a friend who was going (X2 (1, N = 502) = 4.24, p = .039). International students were significantly more likely to select ‘presented in my first language’ (X2 (1, N = 502) = 18.51, p < .001) and ‘sensitive to my culture’ (X2 (1, N = 502) = 35.78, p < .001). This element was the factor with the greatest difference between groups, ranking 5th for international students (27.6%) and 11th for domestic students (6.7%).
Table 5.13 – Motivating factors to attend events by response frequency rank and percentage of international and domestic groups
Motivation International rank and
(%) n = 98
Domestic rank and (%)
n = 404
Knowing a friend who was going 1 (51.0%) 1 (62.4%) *
Free food and/or non-alcoholic drinks 2 (46.9%) 2 (54.5%)
Free sexual health testing 3 (44.9%) 5 (35.4%)
Combined with social activity (e.g. party, movie night)
4 (34.7%) 3 (45.8%) *
Sensitive to my culture 5 (27.6%) ** 11 (6.7%)
The opportunity to meet new people 5 (27.6%) 9 (20.8%)
Free safe sex supplies 5 (27.6%) 6 (33.7%)
Relevant to my sexual orientation 8 (25.5%) 8 (22.5%)
Free alcohol 9 (22.4%) 4 (37.4%)**
Free giveaways/prizes 10 (19.4%) 7 (33.4%) **
Games 11 (14.3%) 10 (18.3%)
Presented in my first language (if other than English)
12 (11.2%) ** 13 (2.0%)
Other 13 (3.1%) 12 (5.9%)