An estimated 155,900 cases of child sexual abuse in the United States were identified by professionals in 1986, a 221-percent increase over 1980. Surveys indicate that 6 to 62 percent of women and 2 to 15 percent of men have experienced child sexual abuse and that many of these experiences involve other family members. Child sexual abusers are predominantly male. Long-term effects most clearly associated with child sexual abuse include depression, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual problems, and repeated victimization. Sources of data on the extent of child sexual abuse are noted, risk factors and causes of such abuse are examined, and research on offenders is reported. Following a discussion of outcomes, consideration is given to such interventions as public awareness, preventive education, treatment programs for victims and their families, treatment programs for offenders, and criminal justice system reform. 80 references