This study sought to determine whether the introduction of free GP sexual health consultations for registered under-25-year-olds in rural and low socioeconomic areas of the Waikato region, New Zealand, in late 2003–2004 improved provision of primary sexual health care, using testing and detection rates of Chlamydia trachomatis as a measurable outcome. Chlamydia testing among under-25 year olds at the 20 intervention practices increased over time, but not among the 29 non-intervention practices; coverage of females aged 18–24 years within the intervention increased from 13.9% in 2003 to 15.5% during the roll-out phase and to 16.8% in 2005. Intervention practices had higher test positivity rates than non-intervention practices (8.7% vs 5.9%; p<0.01), increasing from 7.7% in 2003 to 10% in 2005, relating mainly to increases in positive tests among females aged <25 years. In contrast, no increases occurred in testing or detection among those aged ≥25 years at intervention practices.
