Women who experience gender-based violence (GBV) are at increased risk for HIV. To better understand causal mechanisms, qualitative interviews were conducted with 48 African American women, who reported recent GBV and who were recruited from areas in Atlanta, GA, deemed high risk for HIV infection. Women were tested for Chlamydia (9.4%), gonorrhea (7.5%), and trichomoniasis (28.3%). Key themes were history of abuse, stereotypical gender roles, concurrency, and social support. HIV prevention programs need to address societ al, cultural, and relational influences that play a role in men perpetrating GBV while also addressing risk and protective factors for women to engage in safer sex.