Sydney  - Students from abroad could use a strong dose of sex education, Australian researchers said Thursday.

Professor Nigel Stocks of Adelaide University said a university study in which female students from China and Malaysia were questioned about their sexual knowledge and attitudes toward sex found the respondents were coming to Australia with an alarming lack of sex education.

The study was prompted by statistics showing one in three abortions performed at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital were performed on foreign students.

The study found foreign students had little idea about where to go for help and advice about sexual matters and how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies even though help was readily available from doctors through medical insurance.

Stocks said there was a lack of sex education in the students' home countries but Australia had a duty to care for the foreign students while they were studying in Australia.

"They're quite young, and this may be the first time that they've lived away from home, and they need more guidance," Stocks told Radio Australia.

He said past research indicated the more knowledgeable young people were, the less likely they were to get pregnant and contract sexually transmitted diseases. (dpa)