The health care providers answered questions about the frequency of sexually abused children seen between June 1977 and May 1978 and about the details of the most recent case. Responses came from 39 percent of the subjects. The responses indicate that at least 3 of each 1,000 children are recognized as being sexually abused sometime during their childhood. The majority of reported cases involved actual or attempted intercourse. Seventy-four percent of the perpetrators were known to the child. Family disturbance such as parental mental illness, unemployment, or alcoholism was noted in 56 percent of the cases. The most common outcome (43 percent) was criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. Area Review Committees had no clear policies for the management of sexual abuse. Effective protection of children and therapy for families will require acknowledgement that sexual abuse is part of the child abuse spectrum. Tables and 15 references. (Author abstract modified)