About Me:
Margaret R. Weeks, Ph.D. is a socio-cultural anthropologist and Executive Director of the Institute for Community Research in Hartford, Connecticut. She has significant experience in community-based, applied social science research and collaborative program development and administration, with research expertise in substance abuse and AIDS, including issues of HIV prevention for drug users and their sex partners (particularly culturally targeted prevention for African Americans and Puerto Ricans), as well as expertise in women’s health and gender issues both in the U.S. and China. As an applied social science researcher, over the past 18 years she has conducted studies on prevention of HIV/AIDS among drug users and their sex partners, and evaluated AIDS prevention programs in collaboration with other community research and service organizations. She is currently conducting a study of sustained female condom use for HIV/STD prevention in high-risk women in Hartford, CT; a female condom intervention study among women sex workers in rural Southern China; and a study to test an experimental program to train active drug users as “Peer Health Advocates” who provide HIV prevention to their peers in high-risk drug-use settings in Hartford. Dr. Weeks also has conducted prior research on the status of women in the People’s Republic of China, and a study of microbicide acceptability with commercial sex workers in southern China.
Area(s) of Training
applied anthropology, cultural anthropology, ethnography, medical anthropology, public health, sociology
Area(s) of Expertise
HIV/AIDS, women, substance abuse, China, US ethnic minorities, STD prevention
Current Area of Employment
Institute for Community Research, an independent, non-profit community research organization
