Covering all the BASEs? Barriers and facilitators to STI testing among international students living in England

Among international students at a London university, STI testing is shaped by knowledge and language barriers, with awareness of testing options and trust in health professionals acting as key facilitators.

• Why it matters: Travel-associated ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea in England raises the stakes for timely STI testing, yet international students may face distinct barriers that limit uptake.
• What they did: From March–August 2025, 15 semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the COM-B model and thematic analysis to identify capability, opportunity, and motivation factors.
• The result: Participants reported stigma and anticipated judgement as main social opportunity barriers, while confidentiality and perceived benefits supported testing; these insights informed culturally appropriate STI messaging for England.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.