THE GENERAL DEFINITION OF SEXUAL CHILD EXPLOITATION INCLUDES ANY ACT COMMITTED BY AN ADULT DESIGNED TO STIMULATE A CHILD SEXUALLY, OR ANY ACT IN WHICH THE CHILD IS USED FOR THE SEXUAL STIMULATION OF AN ADULT, EITHER THE PERPETRATOR OR ANOTHER ADULT. IT INCLUDES SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, TOUCHING OF THE CHILD'S GENITALS, AND PENETRATION OF THE ORAL, VAGINAL, OR ANAL ORIFICES. ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL NATIONAL FIGURES ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE, ONE SURVEY ESTIMATES 200,000 TO 300,000 CASES OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION OCCUR A YEAR INVOLVING GIRLS AGED 4 TO 14. MOST PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE GENERAL PUBLIC BELIEF THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF VICTIMIZED CHILDREN ARE MALE. HOWEVER, MANY STUDIES INDICATE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF VICTIMIZED CHILDREN ARE BOYS WHO HAVE NOT REPORTED INCIDENTS OF EXPLOITATION. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE SHOWS THAT SEXUAL CHILD EXPLOITATION CUTS ACROSS ALL RACIAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC LINES. YOUNG TO MIDDLE-AGED MEN ARE THE MOST COMMON OFFENDERS, AND FEMALE PERPETRATORS ARE RARE. THE EFFECTS OF EXPLOITATION HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED CLEARLY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF LACK OF RIGOROUS CRITERIA FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES DAMAGE OR ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING THE SEXUAL EPISODE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FUTURE PREVENTION RESEARCH FOCUS ON CHANGING THE SEXIST CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND ELIMINATING SEX ROLE STEROTYPES, TREATMENT RESEARCH INCLUDE LONGITUDINAL STUDIES DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON VICTIM ADJUSTMENT IN ADULT LIFE, AND SYSTEM RESEARCH PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM REPORTING CODES FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND CHILD ABUSE. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)