 Prostitution of children usually manifests in the form of sex trafficking , in which a child is kidnapped or duped into becoming involved in the sex trade , or " survival sex " , in which the child engages in sexual activities to procure basic essentials such as food and shelter . Prostitution of children is commonly associated with child pornography , and they often overlap . Some people travel to foreign countries to engage in child sex tourism . Research suggests that there may be as many as 10 million children involved in prostitution worldwide . The problem is most severe in South America and Asia , but prostitution of children exists globally , in undeveloped countries as well as developed . Most of the children involved with prostitution are girls , despite an increase in the number of young boys in the trade . 
