dropped by 18 months over the past decade.

The average life expectancy of a Bermudian black man is just under 67 years, compared to more than 68 years in 1980.

And one of the major factors is said to be the numbers of young men who have died because of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness described the figures as "disturbing'' but said he is hoping there has been a recent improvement.

The figures announced by Government statistician Ms Janet Smith have lifted AIDS out of an isolated position which many people still believe only apply to homosexuals and drug users.

Ms Smith said that in 1980 life expectancy in black males was 68.4 years. The latest figures for 1991 showed life expectancy to have dropped to 66.9 years.

But she stressed there were other factors as well as AIDS involved in the decrease.

The Health Minister said he had not seen the figures, but added: "I find it very, very disturbing that the life expectancy of black males has gone down and I am worried about the number of black males that have died.

"It is not only AIDS but that is a major problem. It simply means that, as a community, we are going to have to try and curb this trend.

"We are doing everything we can to get information to younger groups, particularly between the ages of 17 and 27. We want to have an effect on them and make them look at their lifestyles.'' Mr. Edness pointed out that there is now a high number of deaths between the 29 to 39 age group and he believes many of these have been caused by involvements in drugs at an earlier age, some leading to AIDS.

However, he said that he believes that the figures may now have improved in recent years because of AIDS information programmes.

He said he believed many drug users were taking more care and people were taking heed when having sex.

Mr. Edness said: "We have more effective programmes now warning people about AIDS and they have probably had an effect.

"But we may have to have a rethink about our approach to all this and look at introducing new programmes.

"We probably should have realised that these figures were coming because a lot of people with AIDS have been black and most of them young but I did not think it would be so dramatic.'' Nurse epidemiologist at the Government Health Centre, Miss Ruth Daniels said people dying of AIDS tended to be in the 30-39 age group. She said this was partly due to AIDS treatments helping victims live longer.

"In the past people with AIDS would only live up to 18 months. Now they are living three to four years. It means that people at risk are often in their 20s,'' she said.

"There has also been an increase in sexual consciousness among 13 to 19 year-olds, so we could be facing an increase in AIDS.'' Miss Daniels said people are aware of AIDS. She said: "People are being educated. Wherever you go people are told about AIDS and HIV but you still need to arouse their preconceptions and make them understand that they need to make behavioural changes.''