THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN. DEFINING IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM: MANY GROUPS SUPPORT THE OPINION THAT SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IS NOT PHYSICAL ABUSE, MAINLY BECAUSE IT HAS A DIFFERENT MOTIVATION. NO NATIONAL STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE TO DOCUMENT THE EXISTENCE OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN; THE DATA AVAILABLE PERTAIN TO FEMALE CHILDREN ONLY. A SURVEY WAS TAKEN AT A MIDWESTERN MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC IN 1975 TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. A TOTAL OF 20 CLINICIANS REPORTED 74 CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS IN TREATMENT REPORTING A HISTORY OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION; ADULTS IN TREATMENT REPORTING SEXUAL ABUSE OF THEIR CHILDREN BY OTHERS; ADULTS IN TREATMENT REPORTING THAT THEY WERE THEMSELVES SEXUALLY ABUSED AS CHILDREN; AND ADULTS IN TREATMENT REPORTING THAT THEY HAD COMMITTED ACTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE REPORTING OF THESE STATISTICS IS THE SOCIETAL TABOO ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND WITH HOMOSEXUAL ACTS. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT MORE STUDIES BE DONE TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ABUSE AND ABUSERS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (BAC)