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Implementing an Online Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Service for Young People in Regional and Rural
Lauren Ware1, Mitchell McGrath1, Oliva Walsh1
1Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
The Australian Journal of Rural Health
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Local health authorities support online STI testing for young people in regional Victoria, but in-person pathology visits pose barriers. Strategies are needed to overcome these challenges and improve equitable access to sexual health services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sexual Health
- Digital Health Services
Background:
- Online STI testing services offer potential solutions for young people in regional/rural areas with limited access to sexual health providers.
- Current healthcare models often require general practitioner (GP) visits, which can be a barrier for young people seeking STI testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate local public health authorities' perspectives on implementing a novel online STI testing service for young people in regional/rural Victoria, Australia.
- To identify potential advantages, challenges, and implementation strategies for online STI testing in underserved communities.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten key informants from Victorian Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and health promotion organizations.
- Interviews explored attitudes towards online STI testing, its perceived benefits and drawbacks for regional/rural youth, and implementation strategies.
Main Results:
- Public health authorities expressed enthusiasm for online STI testing, citing improved anonymity, efficiency, and access in areas with few sexual health services.
- Key challenges identified include the necessity of in-person pathology visits, transport limitations, restricted opening hours, and potential stigma associated with attending pathology services.
- Navigating treatment pathways post-testing was also highlighted as a potential area of difficulty.
Conclusions:
- Online STI testing presents significant advantages for young people in regional/rural Victoria, but unique barriers exist compared to urban settings.
- Targeted strategies are essential to address these implementation challenges and ensure equitable access to sexual health services for underserved youth.
- Realizing the full potential of online STI testing requires a focus on overcoming geographical and social barriers in regional and rural areas.
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