Developing a Strengths-Based, Culturally Grounded Intervention for Black Women Living With HIV and Intimate Partner Violence: A Formative Study of 1MoreStep

ABSTRACT: Black women in the United States face intersecting challenges of HIV and intimate partner violence. Few programs integrate safety planning with HIV care engagement while addressing strengths and contextual factors that sustain resilience. We developed 1MoreStep, a strengths-based intervention grounded in a cognitive behavioral approach and an HIV stigma framework. Formative work included 12 in-depth interviews, seven focus groups, and a six-member Community Advisory Board. Findings revealed multilevel barriers, including internalized and anticipated stigma, isolation, and structural service gaps. These insights informed a six-session hybrid curriculum incorporating cognitive behavioral tools, peer support, scenario-based activities, and the myPlan app. Guided by participants' feedback, we iteratively refined materials to ensure cultural fit, clarity, fidelity, and flexibility. 1MoreStep targets the psychological, interpersonal, and structural challenges faced by Black women living with HIV who experience intimate partner violence. A randomized, pilot, clinical trial is underway to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention.