Births out of wedlock are at their highest level for 10 years.

The latest figures, published in the Annual Report of the Registrar General, showed the percentage of out-or-wedlock births was 36.1 percent of the total in 1990.

But the worrying factor in that figure is the large number of births by unmarried mothers aged between 16 and 20.

And Government now plans to launch a campaign warning teenagers against promiscuity.

Government and Oppposition health spokesmen are both worried that young people are not taking warnings about promiscuity and AIDS seriously.

Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome said: "It is a high proportion of young people, an area which for some years we have tried to tackle. We must try to direct our young people away from premarital sex and having children at such an early age, but the message is not getting across.

"Our young people are not only putting their lives at risk with the AIDS virus but they do not realise the great responsibility of children having children.'' Health Minister, the Hon. Mr. Quinton Edness said that the figures for births out of wedlock was higher than the usual percentage which is around 32 percent. Out of a total of 895 births in Bermuda in 1990, 323 were out of wedlock.

Mr. Edness said: "We have been aware for some time that the age group between 17 and 24 have been getting the AIDS message but are not responding.

"Previously out of wedlock mothers were aged in their mid-20s but now we are seeing an increase in younger mothers.'' Mr. Edness has spoken to the Bermuda Advertising and Publicity Organisation and together they are working on a campaign to tackle promiscuity.