Community acceptability of STI-X - the rural Victorian STI vending machine pilot

Sexually transmissible infection (STI) rates continue to rise across Australian rural and regional areas. Reported STI rates are often misleadingly low due to barriers in accessing testing, lack of service accessibility and affordability. Utilising innovative solutions such as vending machines can improve access by providing an alternative testing option that increases privacy and convenience.

Community reference groups were assembled to support an STI test vending machine pilot (STI-X) for 12 months across six planned and two temporary regional locations in northern Victoria, Australia. The vending machines were generally situated in publicly accessible areas where consumers could obtain a test kit for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV, complete the specimen collection in a private setting and then post the kit to a laboratory.

STI-X was deemed an acceptable solution for increasing access to specialist sexual health testing. Professionals were supportive of the additional option for individuals who may not use standard healthcare pathways. They identified that the vending machines were easy to use; however, better communication was needed to enhance uptake. Therefore, utilising community-driven promotional approaches, such as word of mouth, are necessary to ensure that information on novel health initiatives reaches the intended audiences.

STI testing vending machines have proved feasible and acceptable to professionals and users in rural and regional Australian communities. This technology would benefit from future research specifically in rural communities to determine whether priority populations will increase their STI testing. Policymakers should encourage innovative solutions in rural communities to combat growing workforce concerns.