Using the Commonsense Model (Skelton & Croyle, 1991), this study examines incarcerated adolescent females’ beliefs about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and the relationship between their beliefs and safer sexual practices. Participants included 54 volunteers of various ethnicities, whose average age was 15.9 years. They completed a questionnaire focusing on their beliefs about HPV and HSV and frequency of safer sexual behaviors. Beliefs about the two infections were inaccurate, especially with regard to control and curability. Although use of safer sexual practices was high for some behaviors, lower scores on other behaviors suggested an inconsistent use of these practices. Accuracy of beliefs regarding HPV was significantly related to safer sexual practices, however not for HSV. There were no significant relationships between fear of
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