This report discusses the health of adolescents and youth in the tropics. The report is divided into five sections. The first section defines adolescence, youth, the duration of adolescence, the age group and its problems, and societies in adolescence. The second section discusses adolescence in relation to society and culture and focuses on the 7-year cycle and emotional, social, and spiritual maturity. The third section describes health needs of adolescents in terms of psychosocial needs and needs related to physical development. The section also covers adolescent mortality, morbidity, health-related behavior, and perceived health. The fourth section discusses sexuality and health in adolescence. It focuses on sexual behavior, pregnancy and adolescence in Africa, abortion, contraception and planned parenthood, and sexually transmitted diseases. The final section discusses the response to adolescent health needs. The topics of this section include the role of physicians, the role of adults, health at school, primary health care, principles of group work in sex education, participation of youth in the promotion of health, and a model for organizing health services for and with young people. (RJC)