The island-wide "sex survey", the first of its kind initiated by religious denominations, was launched in July in cooperation with the Commission on HIV/AIDS in Barbados, Professor Brendan Bain, head of the HIV/AIDS programme at the University of West Indies (Mona Campus); and the United States-based World Relief Corporation.

While the initial target was focused on sexual practices among Barbadian youth of the evangelical faith, at least 50 local congregations have participated in the survey.

Rev. Gerry Seale, General Secretary of the Barbados-based EAC, said yesterday that based on the forms being returned, responses to the survey were "warmly encouraging" and point to a shared deep concern on the issue among the Barbadian people.

He said Professor Bain of the UWI and the Barbados Commission on HIV/AIDS were most helpful in developing the survey with the guidelines provided for the forms used in the exercise.

Rev. Seale explained that once all the forms have been received and the findings assessed, the intention is to involve pastors and other leaders of the participating congregations to be involved in a special consultation to determine effective means of implementing the processed information.