Optimising opportunities for STI testing for men: exploring the acceptability of different testing venues with a focus on football club-based testing

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the commonest curable sexually transmitted infection in the UK. The prevalence is shared equally by men and women. A National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) has been introduced in England, supported by advances in testing technologies which enable non-invasive sampling methods to be used in non-healthcare settings. The NCSP tests nearly twice as many women as men and is more likely to test men in non-healthcare settings. Men are seen as an important, but difficult to reach group. Little is known about where men prefer to access testing and whether or not nontraditional settings, such as football clubs, are acceptable. Methods: 1) A national stratified random probability sample survey of men aged between 18 and 35 years resident in Great Britain, exploring attitudes to self-collected testing for Chlamydia, acceptability of venues to collect testing kits, health seeking and sexual risk behaviours. 2) Qualitative interviews with men who play amateur football. It explores the acceptability of three different, club-based, testing pathways; Health-care professional promoted; Peer-led promoted; and poster-led promoted. Results: Men are well engaged with existing health services and find selfcollected testing kits for Chlamydia highly acceptable. Healthcare settings are the most acceptable venues to access testing although sports settings are acceptable to a minority. Attitudes to testing in football clubs are influenced by factors relating to men’s characteristics, promoter characteristics and the impact of testing on time and effort involved. Conclusions: Whilst non-healthcare settings can be used to reach some men for Chlamydia testing, existing services are already well accessed and offer considerable opportunities to test more men. More should be done to ensure men are able to access testing within the context of daily living, without significantly impacting on the time needed to pursue their main interests