Sigma Research,a social research group from the University of Portsmouth, is launching four of the biggest survey into the sexual health of the adult population today.

The survey aims to help reduce the number of cases of HIV/AIDS amonst African people living in the here in the UK. For the first time the sexual health of lesbian and bisexual women will be surveyed as very little is known about the health care of this group. Two further surveys will gather information about gay and bisexual men and those who are living with HIV/AIDS.

During the 1980's and the early 1990's the number of annual diagnoses wavered between 2,500 and 3,000 by 2005 that number had more than doubled to 7,645. At the end of 2005 63,000 adults were living with HIV here in the UK of that estimated number 33,000 were hetrosexuals some 20,200, that's 60%, were women. And at the March 2007 the aged group 25-34 accounted for 43% of all HIV diagnoses in the UK.

However the HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that is sweeping through Africa. In the Sub Saharan Africa, which is home to only 10% of the world's population, has 60% of the world's HIV/AIDS cases - 25.8 million people are living with the infection. In 2005 an estimated 3.2 million people in this region became newly infected and 2.4 million adults and children died. And 400,000 children have been made orphans due to the AIDS epidemic.

During this summer it's hoped that 5000 people will take part in the survey named BASS Line, which was developed in close collaboration with African agencies, will asked African participants aged 16 and over about their sexual health.

Peter Weatherburn, director of Stigma Research said: "These questionnaires take very little time to complete, less than 15 minutes, and in doing so we will be providing invaluable help to build a clear picture of how we can improve health services."

The surveys can be completed online until the end of August and are also avaliable in booklet form from gay venues, support groups and organisations across the UK. They can also be completed online at www.vitalstatistics.org.uk or www.WhatDoYouNeed.org .uk www.BASS-Line.org.uk or http://www.demographix.com/surveys/3Y9Q-VHRX/MZJJAXPN/