Health status and healthcare access barriers of Chinese students in New Zealand

Background: New Zealand is a common destination for international students, of which Chinese students constitute the largest proportion. While their priority is to gain quality education, their health status impacts their academic performance and overall satisfaction in the host country. This study examines the health needs of Chinese international students in New Zealand, and suggests a policy framework to improve healthcare services for them. Method: A double translation method questionnaire was used to survey tertiary students from four educational institutions in Auckland. Of the 180 completed questionnaires, 166 questionnaires were found to be usable. The majority of students were aged between 21-25 years, with equal gender distribution. Results: The majority of respondents felt that their health status was lower in New Zealand compared with their health in China. Such perception was found in respect of both physical and psychological health problems. Gender differences were noticed in these perceptions. Males reported greater physical problems including muscle pain, while females reported more psychological health problems including homesickness. Of concern, was the preference for self-medication by the majority of students in dealing with these health problems. For those students who consulted health professionals, barriers such as cultural differences, and high healthcare costs prevented them from gaining the full benefit of medical advice. Conclusion: This study suggests a framework focusing on health service planning and cultural health practices to improve healthcare access and outcomes for international students. The study findings would be relevant for educational institutions and policy makers of countries hosting international students.